2015 No 42 13th Home
Pathwalk back of masters
Front door
Pathway around back od master's
Walk path at back of house
For our dining area
Front of dining
outside maid's quarter
Outside of master's bedroom
Outside of our conference room
Cement planters outside of conference room
Consider texture. Texture appeals to us on a tactile level. Well-designed gardens generally have a lot of texture. Notice how the two plants shown here, a Blue Cascade atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Blue Cascade’, zones 6 to 9) and Toffee Twist hair sedge (Carex flagellifera ‘Toffee Twist’, zones 7 to 10), couldn’t be more different in size, shape and color. It is the similarity of texture that ties them together. Their texture in common begs the garden visitor to reach out and touch.
Consider shape. Whereas size appeals to us on an emotional level, shape reaches us on an intellectual, almost empirical, level. Notice how the variegated Japanese water iris (Iris ensata ‘Variegata’, zones 5 to 9) injects interest into this vignette while providing a point of transition between conifers. The light, vibrant hues of the iris foliage speak to the bright, spring-like hues of the Golden Pacific shore junipers (Juniperus conferta ‘Golden Pacific’, zones 6 to 8). The shapes, however, contrast. The iris is quite vertical, while the juniper exhibits horizontal growth. The shape of the iris foliage does, however, mimic the shape of the much taller Alaskan cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Van Den Akker’, zones 5 to 8), effectively pulling the garden together.
Color. Color appeals to us on an artistic level. While the previous garden is sublime, some may find the green-on-green palette too restful for their personal taste. When designing a garden worthy of accolades, the color wheel can be your best friend. When viewing the color wheel, hues directly across from each other are called complementary colors, while hues adjacent to each other are called analogous colors. Complementary colors, such as the blue and orange shown in this photo, create a high level of interest. Pairing blue with an analogous color, such as green, would create a more subdued, and some would say less interesting, vibe. The particular blue exhibited by this upright juniper has undertones of gray, as does the red in the neighboring barberry. This creates a secondary connection that speaks to the quality of this design.
Size. A memorable garden is one in which differences in heights are tastefully exploited to create a dynamic three-dimensional quality. Notice how the tall arborvitaes (Thuja cvs, zones 4 to 8; find your zone) contrast with the shorter clipped boxwood (Buxus sp) hedge and the hostas (Hosta sp). The emotional impact of this nearly monochromatic garden is profound due to the thoughtful juxtaposition of size.
front of living room - by the wall
Highlights in front of dining room
Outside patio in front of our living room
outside of our dining
Adele's shower
For Adele's toilet
Pebbles, cement slabs, to high light one or two sparsely leafed plants.
Canopy bed
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