The growing popularity of the ‘plant parent’ culture has led many people into gardening. Some cultivate essential vegetables in their backyard spaces, while others nurture a few decorative plants for their aesthetic appeal. Amid this green enthusiasm, many overlook the fact that gardening is an art form.
However, gardens have long evolved serving just ultra-practical purposes to being artworks, showcasing the beauty of nature and expressing human creativity. Surely, if a landscape painting of a field of begonias and poppies is considered art, the field itself must also be recognised as art.
A remarkable garden does more than feature lush greenery in raised beds crafted from railway sleepers. It involves the thoughtful application of artistic principles and elements of art to create spaces that are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing and emotionally evocative. In this article, you’ll explore how the principles and elements of art illustrate gardens as art, helping to create better designs.
Table of Contents
Principles of Garden Design
Imagine a garden bursting with vibrant flowers but lacking any sense of order. It might be beautiful, but wouldn’t it be even more captivating with winding paths, pops of contrasting colour, and a central water feature? That’s the power of artistic principles in action!
These principles are the tools gardeners use to create visually stunning and impactful compositions. They help structure artwork, making sure it delivers its intended message or stirs the desired emotions in viewers.
Unity and Harmony
Harmony ensures that garden elements, such as plants and structures, blend seamlessly to create a serene and pleasing environment. Since the art of gardening is multidimensional, garden plants must not only look great in their space but also complement their surroundings.
Everyone has their preferences. When expressing them within your garden space, you may end up with a unitary choice that doesn’t create a cohesive look.
For instance, if you like pine-shaped plants, you may unintentionally fill your space with such plants, creating a monotonous look. But transitions like gradually changing plant heights at borders create a smooth flow throughout the garden.
Balance
A garden needs a sense of balance. This balance is achieved either through symmetrical or asymmetrical design. For a symmetric balance, you mirror elements on either side of a central point you have defined. This is a look typical in classical gardens.
Asymmetrical balance, on the other hand, involves an arrangement where different elements are balanced by their visual weight rather than their exact size or shape. This type of balance is more common in naturalistic or contemporary gardens.
Proportion
Proportion comes into play when considering the size of plants relative to the garden and surrounding structures. In a well-proportioned garden, no single element overwhelms the other within the garden space. For instance, in a small garden, using smaller trees and shrubs maintains harmony, while large trees might be better suited to more expansive landscapes.
Rhythm
Repetition of elements, like a recurring plant variety or a series of arches, creates a sense of rhythm and flow. This guides the eye through the garden. Planting beds with repeating patterns of colours or textures can create a soothing rhythm, while the varied spacing of elements can add excitement and interest.
Focal Points
Every great artwork has a focal point, and so should your garden. A focal point draws the eye and provides a centre of interest in the garden. This could be a stunning garden sculpture or a trickling water feature. Focal points anchor the garden and provide visual breaks.
Elements of Garden Design
Transforming your backyard or garden from a blank canvas to a flourishing masterpiece isn’t just about choosing pretty flowers. Every garden has the potential to become a masterpiece. It should reflect your unique vision and creativity.
To do this, you need to integrate some essential elements of art in your garden design to cultivate a garden that speaks to your soul. These elements include:
Colour
A garden ablaze with colour can be a feast for the senses. For a bold statement, you can add contrasting hues. Or create a calming symphony with a monochromatic palette. Neutrals are great for toning down one sharp colour before introducing another.
Also, deciding on a colour scheme helps set the tone of your garden. Warm colours like reds, oranges, and yellows can create an energetic and lively atmosphere. Cool colours such as blues, greens, and purples offer a calming and serene ambience. Don’t forget about the subtle variations in foliage colour, which add depth and year-round interest.
Texture
The surfaces of plants and materials provide texture in the garden. Combining different textures adds depth and richness to the garden. The interplay of smooth and rough, soft and coarse, adds a physical dimension to your garden.
Imagine the contrast between velvety rose petals and the spiky leaves of a holly bush. Even the crunch of gravel underfoot can contribute to the overall sensory experience.
Form
Form refers to the shapes and structures within the garden. From the rounded form of a shrub to the vertical thrust of a cypress tree, they all add architectural interest and can influence the garden’s overall style.
Line
Lines in a garden can be straight, curved, horizontal, or vertical. Each contributes to the garden’s overall character. Straight lines, often found in paths or hedges, lend a sense of order and formality.
Curved lines create a sense of movement, while vertical lines, such as tall trees or trellises, draw the eye upward and add a sense of height. Horizontal lines, like ground covers or low walls, ground the garden and provide stability.
Space
Space is the canvas on which the garden is created. The careful consideration of open versus filled spaces is crucial in garden design. Open spaces typical in Japanese Zen gardens provide areas for relaxation and contemplation. Filled spaces with plants and features create interest and variety. Balancing these elements ensures a garden feels neither too empty nor overcrowded.
Bottom Line
Establishing a beautiful garden design is an art form. It calls for combining aesthetic principles with the beauty of nature. By understanding and applying the principles of art and thoughtfully incorporating its elements, you can create a garden that is not only visually stunning but also a peaceful retreat for the soul.
