Portals, entrances and transitions. When there is no distant or territorial view to appreciate, you can conjure an interior view. Garden designers use visual tricks to draw and direct the eye — and you can adopt a similar strategy in your own backyard. Here, a full-scale doorway has been inserted into a fence. When open, it reveals a lovely scene within.
With thoughtful planning and placement of plants, the designer has created a spectacular visual treat that invites further exploration. The fence and doorway may be entirely functional, but they define and frame the way one observes the garden.
by ROOMS & BLOOMS
With thoughtful planning and placement of plants, the designer has created a spectacular visual treat that invites further exploration. The fence and doorway may be entirely functional, but they define and frame the way one observes the garden.
Highlight nature. Peer through this vine-clad arbor and observe layer upon layer of shape, form, color and texture. Each plant is highlighted in sharp relief because of the way sunlight dances across its form.
When you plan an island bed, lay out a perennial border or place a specimen tree, consider how the sun rises or sets in your landscape. Backlighting — nature's wonderful gift of illumination — can thoroughly change the mood of a garden view. Similarly, the light at dawn or dusk can magnify the intensity of a vignette, making it more alluring at that special moment when the daylight changes.
by Outside Landscape Group
When you plan an island bed, lay out a perennial border or place a specimen tree, consider how the sun rises or sets in your landscape. Backlighting — nature's wonderful gift of illumination — can thoroughly change the mood of a garden view. Similarly, the light at dawn or dusk can magnify the intensity of a vignette, making it more alluring at that special moment when the daylight changes.
Open up views. Thoughtful pruning or editing can make room for a beautiful distant scene. Instead of cutting down a large tree that may be obstructing your view, invest in the expertise of a certified arborist who can open up view zones with targeted branch removal, allowing you to enjoy both the tree and the view beyond.
Here, the preserved tree is essential to the success of this design. Not only does it protect and shade the outdoor patio space, but it deemphasizes the strong architecture of the home and draws one's eye toward the meadow and hills in the distance. Sublime!
by Sutton Suzuki Architects
Here, the preserved tree is essential to the success of this design. Not only does it protect and shade the outdoor patio space, but it deemphasizes the strong architecture of the home and draws one's eye toward the meadow and hills in the distance. Sublime!
Enhance sight lines. As your eye travels through a window or doorway into the garden, follow the direct axis. Where does your gaze rest? How does your eye move around the garden when it is framed by an open shutter or a divided windowpane?
Emphasize the importance of these perspectives by displaying furniture, plants or ornamentation to create a well-defined scene. While it may be minor in the grand scheme of your landscape, that little stage outside your window is a valuable piece of real estate in the garden.
With this strategy, it's possible (and desirable) that each room of your home will offer those inside a beautiful vignette to observe.
by Studio William Hefner
Emphasize the importance of these perspectives by displaying furniture, plants or ornamentation to create a well-defined scene. While it may be minor in the grand scheme of your landscape, that little stage outside your window is a valuable piece of real estate in the garden.
With this strategy, it's possible (and desirable) that each room of your home will offer those inside a beautiful vignette to observe.
Balance the composition. Use symmetry or asymmetry to frame a view that's near or distant, giving the viewer a restful (living) picture to enjoy.
You can get a formal effect with symmetrical plantings, such as a pair of columnar conifers that indicate an opening to a garden path. Or use an arbor or trellis, centered over a pathway, as is done so beautifully here.
Suggest asymmetrical balance with natural or man-made sentinels of equal visual weight. For example, you can offset a large tree on one side of the view with a grouping of garden furniture on the opposite side. The items may be different, but together they create an appealing balance.
by Shirley Bovshow You can get a formal effect with symmetrical plantings, such as a pair of columnar conifers that indicate an opening to a garden path. Or use an arbor or trellis, centered over a pathway, as is done so beautifully here.
Suggest asymmetrical balance with natural or man-made sentinels of equal visual weight. For example, you can offset a large tree on one side of the view with a grouping of garden furniture on the opposite side. The items may be different, but together they create an appealing balance.
Beckon with passageways. Highlight your garden's best views by creating places to look and locations to pursue, allowing the delightful destination beyond to be perceived as an impactful extension of the garden's visual reach.
Employ techniques that frame and define: An opening in a dense hedge ignites curiosity about what's beyond. Here, two such openings in a wall — a doorway and a "window" — are attention-grabbing devices. The distant garden is half hidden, but it is endowed with heightened drama.
The designer has created a view in what was once an unnoticed area of the landscape.
by Kathleen Shaeffer Design, Exterior Spaces
Employ techniques that frame and define: An opening in a dense hedge ignites curiosity about what's beyond. Here, two such openings in a wall — a doorway and a "window" — are attention-grabbing devices. The distant garden is half hidden, but it is endowed with heightened drama.
The designer has created a view in what was once an unnoticed area of the landscape.
Make it ornamental. This portal emphsizes the distant vista, but it is itself a sculptural object to view and appreciate. Even in the winter months, when the blooms have faded, leaves have dropped from deciduous trees and perennials have died back, this incredible stone moon gate is an essential design element of the landscape.
Eclectic Landscape
An unforgettable vista. An enthralling distant scene is integrated into this lovely landscape with a light hand. Nothing here is contrived, but each aspect of the domestic landscape feels in harmony with the water, hills and naturalized plantings in the distance.
This design works because of the placement and execution of the stone patio, which defines the outdoor gathering area. The plantings at its edge are intentionally kept low so they do not obscure the view of the water. The mature trees on either side are lightly pruned to keep low-hanging branches out of the sight of those magnificent hills.
More: 10 Elements of an Exuberantly Abundant Garden
by Nicolock Paving Stones and Retaining Walls
This design works because of the placement and execution of the stone patio, which defines the outdoor gathering area. The plantings at its edge are intentionally kept low so they do not obscure the view of the water. The mature trees on either side are lightly pruned to keep low-hanging branches out of the sight of those magnificent hills.
More: 10 Elements of an Exuberantly Abundant Garden
Comments
vicky feldman A cold frame is a great intermediary between indoors and outdoors.
3 months ago · Like
Jo Longobardo I want it to be green outside so bad right now...
3 months ago · Like
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Amanda Simons Wow, the second one and the last one! Calgon, take me away!
3 months ago · Like
scottgward Wonderful ideas!!! I am going to use these tips to arrange 2 "walkways" on my property!!! And because I am in a tropical region, any trellis or arbour will have a fruit vine like passion fruit or grapes... Can't wait!!!
3 months ago · Like
Anita Roll Murals Gorgeous settings...thank you Debra!
3 months ago · Like
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RollingPlanter.com Debra, I liked your article. Garden should intrigue you and have feeling. There are so many cold designs happening within this forum and elsewhere, that are not natural or make you feel uncomfortible. Gardens should be tranquil and inviting, they don't have to make statements... The sculpturist Andrew Goldworthy comes to mind when designing walls and interesting shapes in the garden. He works with nature and comes up with great shapes. People should look at his work and then design their gardens. He provides great inspiration and suggestive design.
3 months ago · Like
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