A quick look at the elements of art as they apply to the landscape here in our Northeast Florida area
Landscape design is a very special kind of art. While it may include clay sculptures and even paintings or murals on the side of a building, for the most part, landscape artistry involves the proper use of growing changing
elements. It has it’s own set of unique challenges the designer must face when he attempts to blend our manmade structures into the nature that surrounds them.
Here is a quick look at how a few of the same elements of art that rule the painters pallet and canvas can help guide the landscape designer’s hand as he or she brings ideas to life in the landscape.
Line as a Landscape Design Element in the Northeast Florida Landscape
Lines are a guiding force in the landscape and the backbone that holds all of the other landscape elements in place. Line is what we use to connect the eye, or the people to the landscape that surrounds them.
They can create spaces or ‘rooms’ in the landscape, enlarge an area, and connect spaces and architectural elements together. Line is even used in the landscape to create intentional movement through the space and even to invoke specific feelings in the landscape.
Form as a Landscape Design Element
Form in the landscape is both the size or scale of an object or area and the line that it creates against the backdrop of the ground and sky. It is the three dimensional area of those lines. It can refer not only to an individual plant or object or the plant grouping, but also to the negative space left between those groupings within the landscape.
The form of the existing structures on a residential site, – the home, sheds, pools, hardscapes, ornaments, and even the planting beds – can determine the overall form being used in the landscape.
If line is the backbone of the landscape, then form would be the muscle or the driving force that pushes the design the way that it needs to go.
Texture as landscape Design Element
Texture in the landscape as it refers to hardscapes and existing structures can be described as the surface quality of an object that can be seen or felt. The words small, medium, large, fine, smooth, glossy, coarse, natural, rough, and many more may be found describing a texture in the landscape.
Texture in the landscape as it refers to plant material will most often be used to describe the foliage of the plant. The plant as a whole, – the leaf size and sheen, bark, flowers, fruits, – as well as the form of the plant, all affect the overall perceived texture of the plant.
Color as a Landscape Design Element
Color is what we use to attract attention and ornament a space, change distance perspective, or to evoke specific feelings in the landscape. Color can be found in the landscape on plants’ leaves, mulch selections, the chosen hardscape selections, the surface treatments of manmade structures, but mostly when we think of color we think of the flowers and fruits that a plant may have.
Texture as a Landscape Design Element in the Northeast Florida Garden
Texture in the landscape as it pertains to hardscapes and existing structures can be described as the surface quality of an object that may be seen or felt. The words small, medium, large, fine, smooth, glossy, matt, coarse, natural, rough and many more may be found describing the texture of either an object or plant in the landscape.
Texture in the landscape when referring to plant material will most often be used to describe the relationship between the leaves of plants. The plant as a whole, the leaf size and sheen, bark, flowers, fruits as well as the form of the plant all affect the overall perceived texture of the plant.
Texture in plant material is intentionally varied to increase the visual interest of the overall planting and is often recommended to increase or decrease the surrounding texture of adjacent plant material by at least one third for a dramatic effect. I am definitely not one for rules in the garden. It is the last place where I feel you should have to conform to a society norm or adhere to strict guidelines. The rule of thirds still may be nice to consider when attempting to add eye appeal to a container planting, or drawing attention to your new bird bath or other garden centerpiece.
Varying the textures in any planting increases the visual appeal and catches the eye, drawing attention where it is desired.
In addition to attracting attention texture can be used to trick the eye or change our perspective on the landcape arround us.
For example fine textured plant material can be used to make spaces feel larger or farther away than they are in reality. Big bold textured foliage can be used to seemingly draw objects closer to you or make a space feel more enclosed and less open.
Let’s take a look at some examples of different textures in the landscape.
Fine Texture in the landscape
Medium Texture in the Landscape
Bold or Coarse Texture in the Landscape
Smooth Texture in the Landscape
Soft Texture in the Landscape
Rough Texture in the Landscape
Glossy Texture in the Landscape
Dull texture in the Landscape
Form as a Design Element in the Northeast Florida Landscape.
Form in the landscape is both the size or scale of an object or area and the line that it creates against the backdrop of the ground and sky. It is the three dimensional area that those lines encompass. It can refer to an individual plant or object or the plant grouping, or the negative space left between those groupings within the landscape.
The form of the existing structures on a residential site, the home, sheds, pools, hardscapes, garden ornaments and even the planting beds can determine the overall pattern of forms or theme being used in the landscape.
If, as previously discussed, line is the life force of the landscape, then form would be the muscle, or the driving force that pushes the design the way that it needs to go. Repetition of form in the landscape creates pattern and structure that gives us the overall organization of any landscaped setting.
Geometric Forms in the Landscape:
Circles, squares and polygons
Geometric forms are used in the landcapes in a variety of ways. These geometric forms when used in the landscape tend to create or lend themselves more towards formal landscaped settings. They can be used in the following ways in our Northeast Florida Landscapes:
stepping stones
patio areas
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src=”images/black-bullet-019s.png”> lawn and landscaped groundcover bed areas
on site structures such as homes, garages, pergolas, swimming pools etc.
Non – Geometric or Organic Forms in the Landscape:
gently meandering lines that mimic natural forms
More natural meandering lines are often used
in informal landscapes and more closely mimic
a naturalized setting than geometric forms. They are irregular; like the flow of a river on a map they
create gentle or smooth transitions from one space to another. Think of a natural pond or lakes edge in
comparison to a man made pool or retention pond. Organic forms can, like geometric forms, be used in many ways in
the Landscape.
stepping stones and pathways
lawn and landscape bed edges
pools, patios, deck areas and other hardscape areas
water features and dry creek beds
Plant Forms in the Northeast Florida Landscape
Plant form can be the form of the individual plant or the form the plants make when grouped together as a mass. Like in geometrical and organic forms used in the landscape, plant form can lend itself to formal and informal landscapes depending on your placement in groupings and the natural form of the plant itself.
Plants should be grouped together with other plants that have similar forms for a more cohesive feel to the overall landscape. Using a few contrasting forms can be a good thing, for example adding focal points that attract attention to specific areas like the front entryway. When using sharply contrasting forms however, caution should be used as it can quickly go from adding an accent to creating chaos in the landcapes when too many contrasting forms are used.
Upright / Pyramidal Form in the Landscape
Spreading Form in the Landscape
Arching Form in the Landscape
Broad Spreading Form in the Landscape
Vase Form in the Landscape
Sprawling Form in the Landscape
Oval Form in the Landscape
Columnar Form in the Landscape
Vase Form in the Landscape
Weeping Form in the Landscape
Rounded Form in the Landscape
Spiking Form in the Landscape
Line as a Landscape Design Element in Northeast Florida
Lines are the life force of the landscape, they are what we use to guide the eye movement, the bodys actions, and even the bodys emotions as they are influenced by the landcape that surrounds them. Line is used in the landscape to create intentional movement through the space and can be used to invoke specific feelings in the landscape.
It is created or inferred by the way the plant beds encompass each other or transition from one to the other when in close proximity to one another in the landscape.
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The line made by plant beds and hardscapes can create spaces or ‘ rooms’ in the landscape, enlarge an area, and even connect spaces and architectural elements together.
Take a look here at how a landscape designer may use different types of lines as an element of art in the landcsape setting.
Curved Lines:
– informal or natural in appearance
– graceful, smooth and gentle on the eye
– creates a relaxed atmosphere and lends itself towards asymmetrical plantings.
Uses: Leads the eye or the person more slowly through the landscape setting creating a more relaxed feel. I think of a curved line as an invitation for the eye, or the people, to stop and spend more time discovering the secret treasures to be found in the landscape.
Caution: Large sweeping curves are relaxing and inviting, strong short curves are delineating and when used repeatedly can cause confusion and a feeling of unrest or turmoil in the landscape. Just as on a painters canvas repeated sharp short curves would be used to indicate the termoil of a storm in open water.
Straight Lines:
– formal in appearance
– symmetrical design element
– structural, stable, and directional
Uses: Quickly lead the eye or the person through an area in a clearly defined and intentional direction.
Example:
The straight line of a driveway or sidewalk, used to lead people quickly and easily though a space to the desired destination.
Caution : can be forceful or harsh if too dominant or if not softened by surrounding elements.
Horizontal Lines:
– move the eye along the lower plane
– can enlarge the feel of a space
– can add a subtle relaxed feel to the landscape
Uses: Horizontal lines are used to delineate space as well as tie spaces together.
Vertical Lines:
– move the eye up to the overhead plane
– enlarge a space
– attract attention to a specific area in the landscape
Uses: Vertical lines in the landscape will include trees, pergolas and arbours, lighting poles, bird houses, vine trellises and so on. They can be used to soften a straight line of a fence, attract attention to a destination point, accent a specific area of a home or landscape and more.
Caution: Vertical lines in the landscape add a feeling of activity or movement. Verticle lines can be spaced at a farther distance from one another in informal or relaxed settings and close together in formal settings.
Color is what we use to attract attention and accent a space, change distance perspective, or to evoke specific feelings in the Landscape. Color can be found in the landscape on plant’s leaves, mulch selections, the chosen hardscape selections, and the surface treatments of manmade structures. As gardeners we tend to mostly think of color in terms of flowers and fruits that a plant may have. Let’s take a look at what color can do in the landscape.
Changing the Distance Perspective With Colors:
Cool colors can be used to make an area seem larger than it is in reality. They are perceived as farther away by the viewer and will have a tendency to help the Landscape recede into the background.
Warm colors can be used to make an area appear closer to the viewer or to seemingly bring the landscape in around us. They draw attention and tend to seemingly bring the landscape closer in to the viewer.
Setting the Mood in a Landscape With Colors:
Cool colors are calm and relaxing and will often be used by designers in areas where a restful feeling is desired.
Warm colors invoke action and are exciting. They may be utilized in Landscape design to accent areas used for entertaining, or to draw attention to a commercial building sign, or lead people towards an entrance.
Scale as a Landscape Design Element
in the Northeast Florida Landscape
Scale as a design element in the northeast Florida landscape refers to the size of the object in relation to the objects around it. Size differs from scale in that size is a given set of measures and scale varies depending on the objects’ adjacent surroundings.
Scale is an important part of achieving overall balance in the landscape. It is, in landscape design, referred to in respect to the human scale. Garden ornaments, hardscapes, and other structures should all be considered in light of their proportion when compared to the size of the human body. They are designed with ease of use and with human physical and emotional comfort in mind.
Let’s take a look at some examples of this concept:
Scale of a seating wall or bench to the human body
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Scale of an Arbour to the size of a human body
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Scale of a outdoor grilling area in relation to the size of a human body
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Scale of a sidewalk leading to the front door.
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Scale of steps going from one surface elevation to another
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Scale of Paving stones in relation to the average human’s gait
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Ó{S & J Tree Farm and Nursery’s guide to Principles of Landscape Deisgn specifically taylored to Northeast Florida Gardeners. Priciples of Landscape Design