Variety In 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. On the other hand, if it stand close beside a much frequented path or just before the windows of the living room, it is usually seen in the foreground. Between these extremes there is a middle-ground of greater or less extent. The same plant gives exceedingly diverse effects as seen in these three different positions.

A background is made up most naturally of large trees. Here can be used many species of rough and uncouth growth which would not look respectable at close range. Trees of which the texture is so coarse or irregular as to be inadmissible in the foreground, seem at the background to give but a gentle touch to the else wise unbroken and monotonous surface. Trees of which the colors would jar upon a fastidious eye if seen too close, seem modest and pretty at a greater distance. Moreover, a background must be made up with clue thought to the most effectual exhibition of whatever lies between it and the observers. For this reason it must not have a bristling sky line if smooth and round headed smaller trees are to appear in front of it. And the opposite mistake must be guarded against. One time with another, the background may best be darker than those groups which intervene between it and the usual point of view. This rule cannot always be adhered to, for it would force all dark colored species out of the fore and middle-ground; but the reverse presentation must always be looked upon as an undesirable concession to other necessities.

In the foreground, where all plants are under comparatively close scrutiny, only those should be used which will bear such examination. Flowering shrubs and herbaceous plants may be used here. In most cases plants for the foreground must be small; and though we like to have large trees next the walk so that we can enjoy their shade, and though this demand should be met, to a degree, yet a tree so placed adds nothing to the picture, and too many such trees shut off the view entirely. It is a common fault, in the plantings along drives and walks, that they do not give a satisfactory view of the landscape.

There is a great wealth of medium sized trees and large shrubs which look well in middle-ground. Of these are the buckeyes, altheas, lilacs, and the interesting koelreuteria. The middle-ground is an advantageous place for the exhibition of all tree specimens. If the form of a tree specimen is to be admired it will be put far back in the middle-ground; if it is the beautiful foliage, it will come to the nearer middle-ground. Middle-ground plantings sometimes serve the purposes of background to foreground plantings; but this is not often the case, and it is an undesirable arrangement.

It not infrequently occurs that there are beautiful objects visible from the grounds under treatment and yet lying wholly outside them. It may be mountain scenery, a lake, a view of the ocean, a glimpse of a pretty village, or any other exterior object which bears an interest to the users of the grounds but which is itself wholly beyond the control of the designer. Sometimes these exterior objects are of case with a small plot of ground lying next the ocean. In such an extreme case the intelligent gardener will seek to make his entire work contribute to enhance the beauty or effectiveness of the chief even greater importance than all the grounds upon which the gardener has to work. This might be the though exterior view. This means, of course, that all his effects shall be subordinate to the principal interest. It would be a blameworthy act to place anything in the garden which would draw attention to itself and away from the outside view. In any case he will have careful regard to these exterior views, and will arrange his groupings so as to avail himself of whatever extraneous beauties may be at hand. This, of course, means the leaving of open vistas along well-chosen lines. The lines which are thus to be left open, as well as all the long vistas or perspectives which are to be preserved inside the grounds, should be marked first on the engrossed plans, and as the plans are developed on the paper all obstructions may be kept off them. Again, when the plans are being worked out on the grounds these open lines should be carefully marked and the plantings kept from crowding upon them.

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

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