by Sue Goetz CPH
The Creative Gardener / www.thecreativegardener.com
The masters of gardening, the Japanese, believe that the view from inside the home should be as enchanting as if standing outside in the midst of a beautiful garden. This perspective on gardening becomes a vital element of garden design as the winter months set in and more time is spent inside, gazing out. To help describe this way of looking and designing the garden consider the Japanese term "shakkei", literally meaning "borrowed scenery." It defines a gardening technique that incorporates something in the distance as part of the design rather than look at the immediate space inside a boundary. The success is to make a connection with what is outside that garden to what is inside. It breaks down the design into three parts. The background (what is beyond the garden space), the middle-ground (plantings that frame the background) and the foreground (what is seen right in front or immediately). To look at a garden this way is to see what really makes up the whole picture. Carefully look at how to integrate a view of the mountain, the water or a neighbor’s lovely tree and how to see those elements from a sitting area inside the home. Here are some fundamentals to consider in creating a garden with a view:
Picture Frame - Walk into a favorite sitting spot inside the home and step back. Block out the distraction of indoor décor and allow the window to become a "picture frame" around the outside view. Inside of the frame, what is appealing? What needs to be hidden? Take a critical look then decide how to best enhance the "picture".
Fringe the edges - Add plants that frame the view, taking in the area just outside of the windows or around a focal point. Choose varieties that soften the edges and stay narrow rather than overwhelm. Evergreens with habits that frame areas include: Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Gracilis’), Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) and Weeping Alaska Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘pendula’).
Create a Focal Point - No appealing view? Then create one. The addition of an elegant, flowering or ornamental tree, a work of art or an outdoor structure can easily create a focal point. Look outside the window and choose the spot where your eye is drawn to. In the planning stages it helps to place an object in the area and go back in the house and look out to make sure you have marked the best placement. In the decision process don’t be afraid to play with scale. Add a large element that draws attention. Plan big in planting as well; in some cases it is worth the extra investment in a larger specimen size tree to create the focus quicker than waiting 10 years or more for it to look nice.
Use Winter Interest plants - Planning a garden for year around interest is important. A good design sees every season yet does not give bias to one or the other: Addition of plants with interesting, bark, berries and branching habits give winter value to surrounding plants that are fading. Trees that are bare, as leaves fall, can become an interesting focal point for their unusual bark or branching habit. Branches with berries add color and attract birds.
Think Color - In the winter, gray and brown tend to reign in the sky, branches and left-over faded plants. Winter color can be introduced back into the garden with flowers and foliage; Camellias, Hellebores, Pink Dawn Viburnum., Heuchera, ‘Gilt Edge’ Silverberry (Elaeagnus pungens) and evergreens touched with gold and silver. Pottery and painted structures also add an instant impact of color that doesn’t go away.
Add Movement - Adding movement to the garden outside creates attention inside. Water features that flow add natural sound and movement. Bird-friendly plants and feeders keeps things lively as birds feed all winter long and establish territory in surrounding evergreen brush and trees. Plants that sway in the breeze add organic movement. Evergreen ornamental grasses and grasses with dried seed heads like Blue Oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens), Japanese Sedge varieties and Miscanthus grasses sway and add texture thru the winter.
Gardening with a view changes a perspective on garden design and integrates the home back into the landscape. Take time to sit with a warm cup of tea and look out into the garden. Sketch and take notes on changes to make and brain-storm ideas to create a room with a view.
Sue Goetz CPH, is a garden consultant, designer, lecturer and freelance writer from Gig Harbor. Visit www.thecreativegardener.com for more information.
11/08 | 
