Creative Landscapes

Creative landscapes applies to any landscape that has unusual items or a blend of traditional items incorporated. Using items such as statues or sculptures could be considered creative but utilizing items like old wagons or leftover mechanical parts is truly creative. A creative garden is typically the use of items not normally considered for landscape. For example, when we had a modular home delivered they left the trailer hitch behind. Not sure how we could dipose of it, we decided just to make use of it. I painted it the color of all of our other outdoor furniture, applied wood to the top rails and it became a three sided bench in the corner of our yard. I planted a tree in the center of it to provide a place to sit under the shade. No one knew that it was actually a trailer hitch, they just thought it was an unusual bench.

This type of landscape ties in closely with eco gardens since the concept is the same. Recycling in any form is good for the environment and it can be very attractive and creative. I originally became interested in this by default since I had no idea how to dispose of certain items. When we built a home in the middle of no where, there was no garbage removal. We either had to burn everything or bury it, neither of which sounded appealing to us. We created non-traditional uses for items rather than pollute the land or air.

I've seen all types of things used in creative landscapes from tires full of flowers to old windows standing among wildflowers. Virtually anything can be reused in an artistic way and it can enhance the design and style. If your focusing on a particular theme using something unusual can really anchor that theme.

You can also be creative by using more traditional items in combinations or in different ways. Make a wall herb or flower garden. Place a ladder against the wall and grow a vine on it. The possibilites are endless if we can just see things in plural rather than singular fashion.