Landscape Themes
A style consistency throughout the yard is considered a landscape theme . A theme can be anything from tropical to woodsy. Perhaps the best known themes are cottage and formal gardens. If you like a more formal garden, you may select different plant types that allow heavier trimming. A cottage garden is more free flowing and wild. A theme can be whatever you want it to be, create your own theme. My landscape is what I would consider to be a contemporary cottage garden landscape. I have beds which appear clustered with no particular order. At the same time I have very distinct borders and paths that would appear more formal. What I've created is a very neat appearing but free flowing landscape. Plant selection is an important part of the type of style you want to follow. For a more mountain or woods theme you would probably want pines, evergreens and ferns. Whatever the desire, there are plants available for every region that should allow you to achieve the desired affect.
Even your choice of outdoor furniture can enhance or confuse your design. If your plantings don't seem to quite represent your style then furniture can correct that. Accessories are another great way to enhance the look. There are unlimited accessories for the yard that can really bring the theme to life.For example, flicker bulbs in lanterns are a great affect for a backwoods style as are wooded benches made with logs. Disney World has made a fortune applying themes to their on site hotels. When you stay at their Wilderness Lodge you truly feel that your in the Rocky Mountains even though your in Florida. They removed all the palms and landscaped with pines, evergreens and trees that appear western. They went to the extreme of adding hoof prints to the concrete and deer to the forest around the hotel. If they can do it so can we, even on a budget. You can create your own style instead of following a specific theme. Just decide what elements you want in your landscape and create whatever style makes you feel most comfortable and relaxed.
|
