By Fran Sorin http://www.fransorin.com/ Check out Fran's Book
During the winter months when the majority of us are likely to spend more time nestled up in our toasty abodes, it is easy to look outside and see only the stillness and bareness which nature has bestowed upon us. But if we train ourselves to look beyond what we have become accustomed to seeing, we can discover a painstakingly beautiful and stark landscape that offers us clues on how to proceed in our gardens, this ever changing and growing work of art, in the coming months.
Much like viewing pieces of art in a museum or at a gallery, where we observe the artwork from both a distance and up close to obtain different perspectives, so can we visit our own gardens in order to unravel their complexity, beauty and untapped potential.
By meandering about our own plots of land and observing specimens up close, we are able to take note of the magnificent textures, shapes and colors that become real ‘stand outs’ in the winter landscape. The peeling bark on a variety of maples, birches, oaks and stewartias in a wide array of tones ranging from reddish-brown to cinnamon to gray to black allows us to appreciate the textures that these deciduous trees offer up. The lush green foliage on evergreens the likes of yews, boxwoods, hollies, cypresses, junipers and arborvitaes contrast elegantly against the minimalist styling of the landscape. Holly bushes glistening with berries and witch hazels that bloom mid-winter in a vivid array of felt textured orange and yellow buds on leafless stems remind us that small doses of color can make a very strong statement. And those perennials and bulbs that either retain their foliage or bloom during the winter months like: geraniums, sedums, coral bells, yuccas, hellebores, perennial grasses, snow drops and crocuses, give us cause to pause and reflect on the unique beauty of this season. One has only to take the time and begin to observe these jewels of the winter garden in order to reach the conclusion that the supposed stillness of this season is indeed an illusion; regardless of the season, there exists a constant, steady movement and transformation occurring in the landscape.
Due to the lack of profuse colors and textures competing against each other, our keen eyes are given the opportunity to see what is at the heart or the core of the garden; the elements that give it both its form and function. These are called the ‘bones’ of the garden. Bones can consist of living plants such as evergreens, deciduous trees, bushes and even some large perennials; or can just as easily come from man made materials like stone, brick, wood, gravel, etc. The bones represent the outline or the structure of the garden.
Even in the warmer climates of the U.S., such as Miami, Florida, where specimens such as: Monkey’s brush, Crown of thorns, Shaving brush tree, Firecracker bush, Chalice vine, Hong Kong orchid tree, Lipstick tree and Candlestick bush (just to name a few), can be in bloom during the winter months, you can still train your eye to look beyond the colors and lushness of the blooms in order to seek out the architecture of the garden at hand. It is much like trying to imagine what a room full of furniture would look like bare or with a minimal amount of furniture in it.
Frequently when gardeners refer to the magnificence of renowned English gardens like Hidcote and Sissinghurst with their splendidly designed ‘garden rooms’, they are referring to the ‘bones.’ For gardeners who have a very small yard or terraced area, think of that one area as a garden room. It will open up an array of possibilities for you.
It was after I made a couple of trips to England that I felt both inspired and compelled to begin reconfiguring my own garden. A particularly strong impression was made on me by Vita Sackville West and Nigel Nicholson, the husband and wife team who created Sissinghurst, an old run down castle, which today is the most visited garden in England. I remember having read how Nigel sat only with pen and paper and a rough outline of the irregularly shaped 6 acres that comprises Sissinghurst and how he sketched out a variety of garden rooms connected together by pathways. Each garden room offers a sense of enclosure through the use of brick or evergreen walls around its perimeter. Also, every garden room has easy access to the other rooms to which it is attached. The brilliance of Nicholson’s layout was that he was in fact making use of simple geometry.
Taking my cues from the garden makers of England, I spent the next few years, especially during the winter months, pondering over how to make my half acre, diamond shaped aberrant piece of land into a user friendly, flowing garden with separate garden rooms. A preponderance of my time was spent meandering about my property, looking at it from different angles, levels and perspectives to see how I could possibly unravel what this garden was meant to be. My goal was to create a series of garden rooms, each of them unique in their styles, outlined by evergreen material, stone walls, allees of trees or pergolas; plus, I wanted a sense of whimsy and mystery to be a part of the character of my garden. After much ‘walking about’, gazing out the window and sketching, I finally was able to define and ultimately construct a garden whose bones ‘made me proud’.
But knowing that gardens nor their makers remain stagnant, I annually utilize this quiet time of the gardening year to once again waken my visual senses, to shake them out of their complacency, to get them to stretch their imaginations and think of what is beyond, towards what has not yet been discovered. I know that there still remain plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered in my garden. My project for this winter is to observe and study the much neglected woodland area off the side of my house. Already a plethora of ideas are percolating in my brain; a grove of river birches underplanted with viburnums and fothergillas with sweeping masses of phlox, foam flowers and Christmas ferns covering the ground. But I know that it is only through my own patience and persistence, in taking the time and studying what is already there in all of its raw beauty, that I will begin to unearth the real essence of this piece of land.
TIPS ON USING YOUR GARDEN IN WINTER AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR IMAGINING NEW IDEAS FOR YOUR GARDEN
1.Make a list of everything that you both need and want in your landscape. For example, you may need a play area with a swing set for your children, but you may want a cutting garden for yourself. After completing the list, prioritize it so that the most crucial elements are sure to be a part of your plan.
2. Before sketching out your property, know where the sun is in relation to your house and land. Become familiar with what part of your property receives full sun (6 hours or more of direct sunlight a day), partial shade or full shade. When laying out specific garden rooms, these facts are important to know (i.e. an herb garden needs full sun).
3. Begin to take notice of the relationship of the interior of your home to the exterior. From what rooms in the house do you have windows that allow you to take advantage of the landscape? What would you like your eyes to rest on when gazing out of those windows? Is there an eyesore (i.e. a garage, a neighbor’s shed) that you would like to hide with some creative plantings?
4.When contemplating your new garden rooms, start from scratch with a blank sheet of paper. Initially do not use any of your existing plant material in your drawings. It is very difficult to get your brains thinking in a creative manner if you start with what is already there. You can add the existing plant material in after you have given your imagination free reign.
5.Sketch out any ideas that come to mind. Part of the design process is the ability to stay open to all possibilities. Don’t censor your ideas before you have a chance to see if there is any validity to them.
6. Visit arboretums, botanical gardens and parks in order to learn more about specimens and design. Also, feel free to visit the gardening section of book stores and browse through gardening magazines.
7. Be persistent, maintain an optimistic attitude and be patient with yourself. Studies have shown that creative individuals have the capacity to not only maintain a flexible attitude, think outside of the box and take risks, but to also be persistent and ‘practice’ consistently in their chosen domain. Don’t try to do this project all at once. It should be done at a leisurely pace over the winter months. It is only after much work and reflection that the best ideas can then occur at spontaneous moments, when one is away from the project at hand.
8. Enjoy the process and have fun!! There are no right or wrong ways of designing your garden. Ultimately, whatever design you end up with need please only one person…you. Follow your instincts and let your garden become a true reflection of who you are.
During the winter months when the majority of us are likely to spend more time nestled up in our toasty abodes, it is easy to look outside and see only the stillness and bareness which nature has bestowed upon us. But if we train ourselves to look beyond what we have become accustomed to seeing, we can discover a painstakingly beautiful and stark landscape that offers us clues on how to proceed in our gardens, this ever changing and growing work of art, in the coming months.
Much like viewing pieces of art in a museum or at a gallery, where we observe the artwork from both a distance and up close to obtain different perspectives, so can we visit our own gardens in order to unravel their complexity, beauty and untapped potential.
By meandering about our own plots of land and observing specimens up close, we are able to take note of the magnificent textures, shapes and colors that become real ‘stand outs’ in the winter landscape. The peeling bark on a variety of maples, birches, oaks and stewartias in a wide array of tones ranging from reddish-brown to cinnamon to gray to black allows us to appreciate the textures that these deciduous trees offer up. The lush green foliage on evergreens the likes of yews, boxwoods, hollies, cypresses, junipers and arborvitaes contrast elegantly against the minimalist styling of the landscape. Holly bushes glistening with berries and witch hazels that bloom mid-winter in a vivid array of felt textured orange and yellow buds on leafless stems remind us that small doses of color can make a very strong statement. And those perennials and bulbs that either retain their foliage or bloom during the winter months like: geraniums, sedums, coral bells, yuccas, hellebores, perennial grasses, snow drops and crocuses, give us cause to pause and reflect on the unique beauty of this season. One has only to take the time and begin to observe these jewels of the winter garden in order to reach the conclusion that the supposed stillness of this season is indeed an illusion; regardless of the season, there exists a constant, steady movement and transformation occurring in the landscape.
Due to the lack of profuse colors and textures competing against each other, our keen eyes are given the opportunity to see what is at the heart or the core of the garden; the elements that give it both its form and function. These are called the ‘bones’ of the garden. Bones can consist of living plants such as evergreens, deciduous trees, bushes and even some large perennials; or can just as easily come from man made materials like stone, brick, wood, gravel, etc. The bones represent the outline or the structure of the garden.
Even in the warmer climates of the U.S., such as Miami, Florida, where specimens such as: Monkey’s brush, Crown of thorns, Shaving brush tree, Firecracker bush, Chalice vine, Hong Kong orchid tree, Lipstick tree and Candlestick bush (just to name a few), can be in bloom during the winter months, you can still train your eye to look beyond the colors and lushness of the blooms in order to seek out the architecture of the garden at hand. It is much like trying to imagine what a room full of furniture would look like bare or with a minimal amount of furniture in it.
Frequently when gardeners refer to the magnificence of renowned English gardens like Hidcote and Sissinghurst with their splendidly designed ‘garden rooms’, they are referring to the ‘bones.’ For gardeners who have a very small yard or terraced area, think of that one area as a garden room. It will open up an array of possibilities for you.
It was after I made a couple of trips to England that I felt both inspired and compelled to begin reconfiguring my own garden. A particularly strong impression was made on me by Vita Sackville West and Nigel Nicholson, the husband and wife team who created Sissinghurst, an old run down castle, which today is the most visited garden in England. I remember having read how Nigel sat only with pen and paper and a rough outline of the irregularly shaped 6 acres that comprises Sissinghurst and how he sketched out a variety of garden rooms connected together by pathways. Each garden room offers a sense of enclosure through the use of brick or evergreen walls around its perimeter. Also, every garden room has easy access to the other rooms to which it is attached. The brilliance of Nicholson’s layout was that he was in fact making use of simple geometry.
Taking my cues from the garden makers of England, I spent the next few years, especially during the winter months, pondering over how to make my half acre, diamond shaped aberrant piece of land into a user friendly, flowing garden with separate garden rooms. A preponderance of my time was spent meandering about my property, looking at it from different angles, levels and perspectives to see how I could possibly unravel what this garden was meant to be. My goal was to create a series of garden rooms, each of them unique in their styles, outlined by evergreen material, stone walls, allees of trees or pergolas; plus, I wanted a sense of whimsy and mystery to be a part of the character of my garden. After much ‘walking about’, gazing out the window and sketching, I finally was able to define and ultimately construct a garden whose bones ‘made me proud’.
But knowing that gardens nor their makers remain stagnant, I annually utilize this quiet time of the gardening year to once again waken my visual senses, to shake them out of their complacency, to get them to stretch their imaginations and think of what is beyond, towards what has not yet been discovered. I know that there still remain plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered in my garden. My project for this winter is to observe and study the much neglected woodland area off the side of my house. Already a plethora of ideas are percolating in my brain; a grove of river birches underplanted with viburnums and fothergillas with sweeping masses of phlox, foam flowers and Christmas ferns covering the ground. But I know that it is only through my own patience and persistence, in taking the time and studying what is already there in all of its raw beauty, that I will begin to unearth the real essence of this piece of land.
TIPS ON USING YOUR GARDEN IN WINTER AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR IMAGINING NEW IDEAS FOR YOUR GARDEN
1.Make a list of everything that you both need and want in your landscape. For example, you may need a play area with a swing set for your children, but you may want a cutting garden for yourself. After completing the list, prioritize it so that the most crucial elements are sure to be a part of your plan.
2. Before sketching out your property, know where the sun is in relation to your house and land. Become familiar with what part of your property receives full sun (6 hours or more of direct sunlight a day), partial shade or full shade. When laying out specific garden rooms, these facts are important to know (i.e. an herb garden needs full sun).
3. Begin to take notice of the relationship of the interior of your home to the exterior. From what rooms in the house do you have windows that allow you to take advantage of the landscape? What would you like your eyes to rest on when gazing out of those windows? Is there an eyesore (i.e. a garage, a neighbor’s shed) that you would like to hide with some creative plantings?
4.When contemplating your new garden rooms, start from scratch with a blank sheet of paper. Initially do not use any of your existing plant material in your drawings. It is very difficult to get your brains thinking in a creative manner if you start with what is already there. You can add the existing plant material in after you have given your imagination free reign.
5.Sketch out any ideas that come to mind. Part of the design process is the ability to stay open to all possibilities. Don’t censor your ideas before you have a chance to see if there is any validity to them.
6. Visit arboretums, botanical gardens and parks in order to learn more about specimens and design. Also, feel free to visit the gardening section of book stores and browse through gardening magazines.
7. Be persistent, maintain an optimistic attitude and be patient with yourself. Studies have shown that creative individuals have the capacity to not only maintain a flexible attitude, think outside of the box and take risks, but to also be persistent and ‘practice’ consistently in their chosen domain. Don’t try to do this project all at once. It should be done at a leisurely pace over the winter months. It is only after much work and reflection that the best ideas can then occur at spontaneous moments, when one is away from the project at hand.
8. Enjoy the process and have fun!! There are no right or wrong ways of designing your garden. Ultimately, whatever design you end up with need please only one person…you. Follow your instincts and let your garden become a true reflection of who you are.
No comments:
Post a Comment