You know, when my wife Patti and I started creating our garden back in 2006, I had a bit of a different approach than most gardeners. While I’m absolutely addicted to plants – I seriously dream about them, buy them, and plant them whenever I can – I’m also just as passionate about stone and rusty old objects. To me, a garden isn’t just about the plants; it’s a three-dimensional outdoor space that needs to work for the people using it first and foremost.
If a garden is so crammed with plants that there’s no room to actually move around and enjoy the space, what’s the point? That’s why I believe the hardscaping elements – the paths, patios, walls, and other structural features – are just as vital as the plant choices. In fact, I spent just as much time planning out the hardscape elements as I did selecting the plants.
After all, a functional and practical outdoor space is the foundation for a truly captivating garden. Only then can you start layering in the plants, sculptures, and other details that bring it all to life. It’s a bit like designing the frame for a work of art – without that strong structure, the whole thing falls apart.
Understanding Space and Structure in the Garden
When Patti and I started working on our garden, we had a wide-open blank slate to work with. Rather than just randomly plopping plants down wherever I felt like it, I took the time to sketch out a proper design plan, dividing the space into different zones and giving equal thought to the hardscape and planting areas.
One of my main goals was to create a sense of mystery and exploration as you move through the garden. I didn’t want visitors to be able to see everything at once – I wanted there to be little nooks, corners, and focal points that drew the eye and invited further exploration.
To do that, I carefully placed walkways, walls, and other hardscape features to control the views and physical access through the space. For example, our front Japanese-style gate is slightly off-center, only giving a glimpse of the patio and raised bed beyond. It’s just enough to pique your curiosity and make you want to peek around the corner to see what else is there.
As I learned from Fine Gardening, I also tried to strike a balance between visually appealing barriers and claustrophobic walls. The last thing I wanted was for people to feel closed in or overwhelmed.
And when it came to choosing the hardscaping materials and placement, I applied the same level of creative thought and planning as I did with the plant selection. I wanted everything to work together seamlessly, both functionally and aesthetically. Asymmetrical placement of focal points, complementary shapes and textures, and a cohesive color palette – it was all part of the process.
Blending Plants and Hardscape
Once the foundational hardscape elements were in place, I turned my attention to selecting the plants. And just like with the hardscape, I approached it with an eye towards creating a cohesive, visually striking composition.
As a self-proclaimed “conifer addict” and member of the American Conifer Society, I knew I wanted to feature a lot of unique conifers and Japanese maples in the garden. These plants have such amazing shapes, textures, and growth habits – they were the perfect counterpoint to the hardscape elements.
I’d carefully place them to echo the forms and lines of the nearby walls, sculptures, and other features. For example, the tiered branching of a Japanese white pine would mirror the tiers of our disc-harrow water feature, while a weeping Norway spruce would cascade down over some smooth boulders, almost like water flowing over rocks.
As described in Fine Gardening, I’d also use bold perennials and other colorful plants to draw the eye towards interesting hardscape objects that might otherwise be overlooked. A mass of blue-toned bluestar, for instance, would make you notice the playful wagon wheel hovering above it.
It’s all about creating those little moments of delight and discovery as you move through the garden. The plants and hardscape elements working together to form a cohesive, visually compelling whole.
Adding the Final Touches
Of course, the garden wasn’t complete without one more layer – the decorative objects and sculptures that Patti and I have collected over the years. To us, these pieces are just as much a part of the hardscape as the stone, concrete, and metal.
We’ve got everything from upcycled lamp shades turned into floral sculptures, to a whole collection of vintage farm equipment and industrial castoffs that have been seamlessly incorporated into the design. Each one is carefully placed to serve as a focal point, a visual accent, or even just a little bit of whimsical humor.
Just like the plants and hardscape, I approach positioning these objects with the same eye for balance, contrast, and visual interest. I might use rusted metal pieces to echo the green of the plants, or mix in different stone textures to create visual depth and layering.
And the great thing is, unlike the living plants, I can move these objects around as much as I want to fine-tune the overall look and feel. It’s an ever-evolving process of discovery and reimagination.
The Joy of Layered Design
I have to admit, I get just as much pleasure from finding the perfect rusted old bike rim or repurposed organ pipe as I do from selecting the ideal plant. To me, they’re all just different elements in the same creative palette.
The more I can layer these different textures, shapes, and materials together – hardscape, plants, and decorative objects – the richer and more captivating the whole garden becomes. It’s like adding depth and dimensionality to a work of art.
And the best part is, I’m constantly finding new ways to mix things up. Just last summer, I completely reimagined the dry pond in our garden, carefully arranging the Japanese river rocks to create the illusion of rippling water. It was such a simple change, but it totally transformed the whole space.
That’s the joy of landscape design, in my opinion. It’s an ongoing process of discovery, experimentation, and creative expression. There’s always something new to try, some new way to delight the senses and surprise the eye.
So if you’re looking to take your garden to the next level, I’d encourage you to think beyond just the plants. Start exploring the world of hardscapes, sculptures, and found objects. See how you can layer all those different elements together to create a truly one-of-a-kind outdoor oasis.
Who knows, you might just end up with a garden that out-cottages any cottage garden in England. And that’s a pretty exciting prospect, if you ask me.
