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Unity - Part 1 - Themes - Page 2

© Kirk Johnson

Some themes, such as "Shakespeare Gardens" and "Bible Gardens," are intellectual; they still need a visual organization. Both gardens are well suited to simple parterre gardens; the visual theme could just a simple parterre enclosed by a lattice fence - a garden enclosed. An orchard would be a wonderful addition to this theme, many medieval and Tudor gardens were simple parterres next to orchards.

Another theme is the edible garden. This is also very well suited to the theme of parterre and orchard. It can include an arbor on which to grow grapes or kiwis or even gourds, with fruit trees espaliered along the enclosing fence. An herb garden can be a wonderful feature in an edible garden.

Country gardens can be a theme. The manor house garden is a form of country garden, but I think of country gardens as unpretentious. Use fencing that is characteristic of farms or ranches in your area; suburban type fencing can destroy the mood. Domestic animals can do a lot to maintain a country garden theme. Instead of hiding the chicken yard, why not think of it as an aviary? Chickens can be quite interesting to watch; they could be the focal point of your garden. The edible garden and the cottage garden go perfectly with this theme.

White gardens have been fashionable for decades; it is probably best to think of these as moon gardens, attractive in the evening and in moonlight, and to include pastel flowers. Light colored gravel paths, especially straight ones, show up very well in the moonlight, are very easy to navigate. If the garden is designed for moonlight, it will probably also feel unified under sunlight. Many pale flowers are fragrant, so fragrance can be an underlying theme of this type of garden.

The wildlife that you hope to attract to your garden form the basis for yet another theme. Water is essential, at least a birdbath. If your plants are intended to attract certain species, your garden will almost certainly be unified. You will still have to think about esthetics when composing the plants into a garden, but the animal's preferences will provide the unifying theme.

You may have noticed how often I mention water. If your garden lacks unity, the addition of a few water features may tie it all together. A lily pond in one part of the garden, a simple fountain in another part, and a birdbath in a third part may be all that your garden needs to tie the disparate parts together. Then again, depending on your yard, it might just add to the feeling that your garden has too many features. It is always best to think and dream for months before adding anything. Live with ideas in your head before spending time and money on them.

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