Variety In Composition

There is some danger that the beginner in plant grouping will make all his groups alike. This is a very easy thing to do. To avoid it, it first becomes necessary that the operator shall see the sameness into which he is falling. This he can best do in his own work by directing his imagination to construct before him the various finished groups. It is certainly unlikely that the individual plants will be set in exactly homologous positions unless the groups are set with a tape measure. But it is not difficult, if the imagination be serviceable, to compare the probable final effects of two groups, and determine with satisfactory accuracy if the two will look alike twenty years hence. Aside from the ability to see mistakes, it requires an inventive mind to devise new arrangements for groups; but a variety of arrangements they certainly should have in any scheme not intentionally formal.

Single trees or shrubs appear to great advantage when properly placed, and if in all respects good, they add sensibly to the composite beauty of the scene. A single plant will naturally receive more and better attention when standing by itself than though it were in a group with others. For this reason it should have greater individual excellence, if possible. It should be faultless, if that can be. There are many positions about any extensive grounds in which single trees or shrubs will be acceptable units of the composition. The judgment of the designer must point these out; but we may take note that they will usually be comparatively close to the observer, so that the single plants will always be under critical examination. Such places are, then, to be reserved for specially choice specimens. Any rare or remarkable plant,—not monstrous and deformed,—should be given such a place of prominence. And every specimen plant should be remarkable for its individual perfections of good culture.

There are a great many general and common forms given to groups, but their classification and discussion do not belong here. It is sufficient to iterate that this is another point at which conspicuous variety is both possible and proper.

Contents

• Surface - In seeking to vary the surface on which our gardening is to be done, our attention falls first upon the three simplest forms of ground, viz., the plane, the concave and the convex surfaces.
• Form - In the natural style it is always admissible to group the trees so as to hide, partially or totally, the buildings from most situations, and to give a really complete view from only a few specially favorable points. If a group is so placed as to afford a partial view of the buildings from one standpoint, a totally different view is seen from a second standpoint. In this way the buildings are seen in an endless variety of forms.
• Materials, Color, and Texture - We have already noticed the general variety in forms available to the landscape gardener; but it is worth while, in the present connection, to emphasize the attractive variety of forms which meet the admiration of the tree lover. To know these resources and to understand the possibilities of each species and variety is to master the landscape gardener's useful alphabet.
• Season - The question is, shall we attempt to intermingle the perfections of all the year so as to have somewhat of attractiveness in each several group at all times? Or shall we rather follow the dictum of Lord Bacon, and group together those plants suitable to each successive season? Doubtless each method is at times expedient.
• Composition - There is some danger that the beginner in plant grouping will make all his groups alike. This is a very easy thing to do. To avoid it, it first becomes necessary that the operator shall see the sameness into which he is falling. This he can best do in his own work by directing his imagination to construct before him the various finished groups.
• Position - There are, of course, some objects which are seen both near by and at a distance. But in the majority of instances an object, — for instance, a tree, — will be most often seen from the same distance. If it stand at the back of a wood belt, with numerous smaller trees between it and the distant roadway, it may be fairly considered in the background.
• Variety - There should be variety with unity. Unity does not demand sameness. The two are not really opposed to each other, though either one would be easier to accomplish could the other be disregarded. Perfect unity with satisfying variety need not be even a compromise; but both tests must always be applied by the gardener.

See Also

• Next Page: Variety In Position
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