5 minute read
Progressive Plants
Designing Your Landscape to Reflect Nature
By Progressive Plants
The natural world around us is loaded with beauty. Without any effort from mortal hands, nature simply works. It catches our attention with light, shadow, texture, color, shape, form, and contrast. The artistic compositions of Mother Nature change with the seasons, of course, but the images also change immensely as we move through the landscape. Where we stand can make all the difference.
Nature teases us with one stunning vista while concealing another masterful composition just out of view. That’s why we hike, ride mountain bikes, or take long drives through the country. That intrigue drives us to explore the trail to see what’s around the next bend. We want to take in as much of Mother Nature’s art as we can.
Nature’s artistic touch inspires and informs our own efforts to create beauty. Since its earliest conception, the driving force behind art has been to express thoughts and feelings, or to simply grab our attention, by mimicking the beauty of nature. Artists have attempted this through photo-realistic paintings, detailed sculptures, or even loose patches of color carefully placed to create contrast, composition, or visual interest.
This famous painting, Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge, by Claude Monet, is a prime example of art imitating the beauty of nature. This image is especially unique because the garden depicted here, Giverny Gardens, was Monet's own creation, and he often said that the garden itself was his greatest work of art. (Image courtesy of www.claude-monet.com.)
Art is essential in each of our lives because it circumvents the limitations of language. Through music, sculpture, dance, painting, and other art media, including landscaping, we can express thoughts, feelings, emotions, and ideas that are beyond words. We’ re sure you ’ve had moments when you were overcome with emotion simply by experiencing art whether it was an especially moving piece of music, a lyrical dance, or even a thought-provoking painting.
The same natural elements artists strive to replicate in their work will make your own landscape pop with life and beauty. As you design your landscape, think in terms of artistic composition. How will you create balance? How will you implement shape and form? Where will you create contrast between highlights and shadows? What about color? Do you want to pop contrasting complementary colors beside each other such as yellow and purple, orange and blue, red and green? Or, would you rather create a grow bed filled with analogous colors; colors that are beside each other on the color wheel yellows, oranges, reds and browns, or greens, blues, and purples? Like Monet, you can create a landscape that inspires you an outdoor space that’s loaded with life and energy. There’s a lot to consider when you’re designing your landscape, but if you start with contrast and layering, you’ll win the biggest part of the battle.
Contrast
As you consider contrast in your landscape, think of the contrast between complementary colors, light and dark, large and small, columnar and broad, and compact and loose. Placing complementary elements near each other will make both plants pop, and incorporating varying textures in your yard will help your plants stand out against each other as they catch the light and your attention. Remember, also, that flowers are usually short-lived compared to foliage. If you can find these elements in the foliage of your plants, your landscape will have longer-lasting appeal.
Layering
Layering is simply placing plants of various heights in such a manner that they can all be seen and enjoyed. The landscape here at Progressive Plants, beautifully incorporates shape, form, and balance, but those elements are a pleasant byproduct of contrast and layering. You could take any portion of this landscape and find a balanced composition, but that balance is the natural result of layering. The layers support each other, create patches of color, and add weight to various areas of the landscape. The shape and form you see in this landscape is simply the result of contrasting elements setting each other apart. If you keep these two elements in mind, you can see how designing the ideal landscape becomes easier.
Intrigue
Intrigue is what motivates people to explore your yard, and it’s best created by teasing and concealing. You can create intrigue by designing your own winding pathways with plants that obscure your view and invite you to discover what’ s around the bend. You can also appeal to your inner child by creating spaces that feel secluded and engulfed in living things places where your younger self would hide away.
All of these elements come into play as you design your landscape. The more artistic elements you incorporate into your yard, the more it will feel like an escape to nature a place to rest, rejuvenate, and heal, as you slip away from the clutter of everyday life.
Creating an outdoor escape can be complicated. There certainly are challenging elements such as selecting plants, designing your sprinkler and drip irrigation systems, and learning how to care for the plants in your garden. Don’t let that discourage you. The benefits far outweigh the challenges. If you have questions, we ’re here to help. You can chat with us at www.Progressiveplants.com. For a more personalized solution, simply connect with one of the designers on our website. They are among the best in the industry, and they’re eager to turn your yard into a masterpiece.
