Garden Planes

These are not for flying through your landscape, but a way to organize it.

When you walk through a fabulous garden, do you ever wonder why you're so intrigued with it? It's often because that garden was successfully organized into lovely rooms. These rooms are composed of vertical, ground and sky planes (or more simply walls, floor and ceiling).

Photo courtesy of Jonas Peterson

My next three posts will highlight each of these dimensions and hopefully provide ideas for your own landscape.

The Restorative Landscape

I don't think it's a surprise that the landscape is a restorative place. When we're angry or stressed a walk in the garden or woods is just the right medicine. By hiding away in a special place we're able to think more clearly and release the negative emotions.

Photo courtesy of Robb Siverson Photography

Interestingly, I have also found this about teaching. No matter what is happening in my life, when I step into the classroom or give a presentation all bad vibes disappear. It's a wonderful restorative process...and ironically, my teaching is about the landscape, so it all comes full circle.

The Personality of a Garden

I have an infatuation with gardens.
The more formal the better. With people...the most intriguing.


Photo by Jonas Peterson

Beauty and function should go hand in hand. Why have a beautiful garden unless you actually use it? Interestingly, many stylistic garden images are devoid of people. I understand why...it is easier to capture a pristine space without the clutter of humans bounding about. These are lovely photos, but they lack energy and emotion.

I hope to show you the energy of a garden by the people in it...laughing, loving, eating, playing, and creating. This is how a garden exhibits personality.