The organizing tools of the garden space:
Like indoor spaces: floors, walls, doors, windows, ceilings
Various choices of shape, material, ornamentation and transition available.
Door: transition from one space to another
slows you down! stop! linger!
pay attention!
good place for a fragrant plant:
allow nose to catch up with feet
guides eyes and feet: pass through here
mark with element to say "go this way"
Floor: level, wide and secure for ease of movement and broad views
narrow stepping stones make you slow down, pause, linger
choice should suit the situation desired
labyrinth is designed solely for walking meditation
Windows: frame views, control the picture, narrow the focus
close off side views outside of the main view
Walls: boundaries, hide and create mystery, shield, stop the eye, define an edge
create a hidden corner, sounds can create mystery (water, chimes, etc.)
doorway in wall can reveal or obscure
Focal point: draws the eye with color, sound, fragrance, art form, seating
Gardening is organizing the metaphors:
Color, sound, fragrance, memory, symbols
Shape (circle or other geometry), sometimes interrupted by an object
Simple items (2 red chairs)
Unifying element (connecting spaces to each other, such as home to outdoors)
Determine a destination such as a seating area, art object
Design connecting walkways appropriate to the experience
Be realistic - few interventions - borrow ideas
Sanctuary
controlled
garden
Garden Tools
Gardening has compensations out of all proportion to
its goals.
It is creation in the pure sense.
— Phyllis McGinley
manipulating the stuff of the garden
There is no language of the holy.
The sacred lies in the ordinary.
— Deng Ming-Dao
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