Dressing Up a Small Yard in Classic Formality
August Holcombe Truly vast, picturesque gardens like Versailles that cover many acres are a lovely and grand site to behold. But so are small gardens or yards. Visitors to Charleston and Williamsburg become enchanted by the small formal garden rooms that make up the home grounds of these small properties. Sir Roy Strong, who was with the Victoria and Albert Museum for many years, has written several books on design for small areas. Most of his work is done in the formal manner of straight line, geometrical shapes, and symmetrical balance. He has been the author of several books written masterly on the design of small spaces, turned into lovely garden rooms. Formal gardens look particularly well in older neighborhoods with rectangular plots, streets in block form, and sidewalks along the street as seen near the center of cities and small towns across America before suburban sprawl became the norm. A formal design scheme often used is a rectangle divided in four quadrants. It has two walks, one running lengthwise, and the other running the width. In the center the walks crisscross, thereby forming a cross. This pattern was used in the monasteries built all over Europe during the Middle Ages, and later. The walks were edged in box usually, though sometimes other plants were used, and were clipped often. In the quadrants vegetables, fruits, and herbs were grown. Many of the herbs and espaliered fruit trees had lovely flowers. Different patterns can be laid out on the ground in geometrical patterns, the French call parterres. You can outline the parterres with box, or some other shrub that is easy to keep low. Inside the parterres, flowers, vines, herbs, or tender plants may be planted, or you can use rocks, mulch, seashells, etc. to fill the parterre. The Victorians were fond of this style of gardening. Usually they changed the beds out with each season. Vast greenhouses were built to supply the plants for the garden. A maze may be created inside a formal garden room. In England, during the Elizabethan and Tudor era, mazes were a popular way to entertain the house guests. Even in suburbia and the country, it is often proper to use formal, straight line garden design near the house. This is particularly true, if the ground is flat. Curves and asymmetrical balance require more talent in design to achieve a coherent whole. Most designers see the property divided into garden rooms. The floors are concrete, marble, grass, etc.; the walls are fences, walls, hedges, etc,; the ceilings are the sky, treetops,etc To connect the rooms, doorways are created in the walls by breaks. Furniture, fountains, pools, garden art objects are placed in strategic places to lead the visitor's eyes from one room to the next. Often, the designer wants to block off the surrounding view. At the end of the view is placed some object, known as the terminus. This is done to keep the space a self-contained unit. True, you may have naturalistic rooms, but formally designed garden rooms are easier to master. If you should feel overwhelmed by the possibilities of your property, consult with friends, neighbors, or family for referrals for professional garden designers, or landscape architects. If you prefer a landscape architect, you may also contact the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). About the Author
August is a baby boomer and he retired 4 years ago. He studied ornamental horticulture in the late 60's and early 70s. August enjoys reading, gardening and surfing the internet. You may visit his Contemporary Home Gardens Blog and website. Visit the \contemporary garden design in blog and the Contemporary Home Gardens website August Holcombe may be contacted at http:contemporaryhomegardens.8m.com. Click here to view more articles by August Holcombe. Reprinted with Permission from IdeaMarketers.com
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