Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces Design Basics —
by Nina A. Koziol
How do you shape a residential client’s land-
scape so that it’s both beautiful and serene, a place that uplifts them, and that is profitable for you? Landscape designer Jan Johnsen of Johnsen Landscapes & Pools in Mt. Kisco, New York, offered a master class at this year’s iLandscape to address those ideas. “Our mission is to transform properties into outstanding outdoor settings that are truly enjoyable,” said Johnsen, who has 45 Jan Johnsen years of experience in landscape design and build and runs the company with her husband. “My aim is that you don’t know the project was ‘designed.’ That’s the hardest of all to do.” When Johnsen was teaching, she said students would often ask, ‘what are the rules?’ “They wanted to know the rules, but I don’t call them that — they are design basics. [Landscapers] talk about rules for rain gardens, native plant gardens, pollinator gardens, and more, but we sometimes forget that we have to make them beautiful. I don’t have a list of rules — I think of them as design basics.” The students’ questions led her to write Gardentopia: Design Basics for Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces, (Countryman Press, 2019). The book has 135 design ideas, a blend of large concepts and small details. Her presentation was based on the book. “Her talk was very inspiring,” said Allie Corbett of Clarence Davids in Matteson. Rachelle Frosch, horticulturist at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, also attended the session. “I wanted some fresh ideas,” Frosch said. “It was a fun one to attend — she’s very personable and approachable.” Here are some features Johnsen discussed.
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The Mystery of the Unseen
“A half-hidden vista encourages people to explore a space because the mystery of the unseen is quite tantalizing,” Johnsen said. “If you see only a partial view of a landscape, you will invariably move forward to see what is ahead.” To make a small outdoor space more interesting or appear larger, you can use an ancient Japanese design technique known as miegakure or ‘hide and reveal,’ she explained. “This entails partially obscuring a view or features in a garden to create an illusion of distance.”
Gates
A unique metal gateway makes the entry into a garden special. “Right from the beginning, you know you are entering another world. So why not go on a gate hunt to find something distinctive for your client? It’s the power of the portal. Gates and arches add to the drama of the space. A gate stops the eye, making a small space larger.”
The Landscape Contractor June 2020
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