What happens when it rains? Do you have
do you want to create a heightened sense of
an issue with mud? Where are the most
interest and guide the direction and path
frequently traveled routes in your front,
your feet will take? With the proper use of
back, and side yard? Some things are not
privacy screens and evergreen hedges, you
worth fighting. Instead of struggling to make
can direct the eye upon an intended focal
something work, create solutions to solve the
point. Being in a garden is an immersive
issue. Solving these issues upfront helps to
experience; flow directs your focus and
create a layout. Locate these trouble areas
protects you from unwanted interruptions.
and think creatively. In some cases, these
For example, when I walk out my backdoor,
challenging spots in your garden are great
I'd prefer not to see into my neighbor’s
places to install hardscapes. So rather than
bathroom window. Instead, I have a trellised
placing grass underneath a shady path,
passion fruit vine which is a living privacy
maybe this could be a great spot for a gravel
screen that provides beautiful flowers and
walkway with a tree swing or a patio to sip
delicious fruit. Flow is not limited to blocking
your morning coffee. Once you know where
unwanted sights but also considers desired
you want and need hardscapes you can fill in
views such as a birdbath, ornamental tree,
the rest with your garden beds. This will
downtown view, or an architectural feature
allow your garden to naturally take shape.
of your house you'd like to highlight. Either
Hardscapes both make a space functional
way it is important to consider where you
and are a design element that enhances the
want to direct the eye to achieve this kind of
beauty of your garden and the way you
experience. A good balance between
experience it. They create contrast, help
hardscape and plant life, and some careful
guide your eye, create a heightened sense of
thought, will help you establish this sense of
interest and interaction and, quite literally,
flow.
guide the direction and path your feet take, which leads us into flow.
Before you install your garden it is important to have an idea of how you want it to
A Garden has Flow
function, to understand the space you're working with, and to visualize the flow of
Flow is about where you want to direct the
how your garden will take shape. Sometimes
eye and draw people in to allow for an
it takes a while to gather an understanding
immersive experience that is uninterrupted
of these three things, and even if you know
by unwanted distractions. So, ask yourself
exactly what you want, time and money
where is it you want to draw focus? Where
determine how you get there. Putting in a temporary vegetable garden bed or using pots to keep plants may be necessary until you’re ready to invest in an overall plan. Building hardscapes and planning beds can be done in stages, and this has been my personal approach to my garden. I began with some of the key staples like my pathways and fruit trees. From there I've been able to get closer and closer to the overall vision and plan I have created for my outdoor living space. Having a plan will help set you up to create a garden both beautiful and fulfilling.
52 | Spring 2021 | Cultivate SA