How To Design A Garden, Part 2: Theme

1. Alhambra in Granada, Spain
2. Tea in the Garden, Henri Matisse, 1919
3. Lotusland

these three photos reference the post below, "How To Design A Garden, Part 2: Theme," each being a theme we've used to design a garden.

 

Now that you're inspired and your outdoor dream space is floating around your head space, it's time to make this jellyfish of a dream into a green space reality.  This is exciting!  At this point, no project, idea or concept is too big or too small.  There are no details to knock out yet, so this part is both intuitive and research-based.  It relies on brainstorming, and it's fun.

It's theme time.  And the best way to pick a theme is to:

1. Look at the existing architecture of the outdoor space.  Often it will give you at least the floor plan for your garden, outdoor office, or patio.  Also, using architectural details from the existing architecture will give the garden the sense of it seeming as if it was "meant to be" there.
2. Look at yourself: meaning, how do you want to use this space? What do you want it to say about you?
3. Look at art and pick one painting, image or specific style you'd like to make come alive in your outdoor area.

Then make a simple phrase.  Start a file.

In this file collect pictures which represent solely elements and overall feelings of this theme. Here you can go big picture (conceptual), small (design details), or both, the more the merrier. From this, pull out 1-3 key images you want to use as your cornerstone theme go-to.  This will help you throughout the project to know if a certain element is in-keeping with your style.

If you're dealing with a large project or multiple areas, it may be nice to have an overarching theme, then more specific ones per individual area.  If your space is size-challenged, it tends to be maximized by theme cohesion, so try to have just one theme in mind.

PGPP on Instagram

1. 1/3 of our posts are those showcasing our work and design process such as this sketch we did to conceptualize poolside paving, hedge, containers, lattice and a lion's fountain for a client [photo 1].
2. 1/3 are of our posts are lifestyle driven, meaning "behind the scenes with Private Gardens, Public Places," like this photo of an enchanted hike in the Pacific Palisades and what we noticed about landscape and design during this experience [photo 2].
3. 1/3 of our posts inspire us and hopefully will inspire you! For example, this picture of the way children used scaffolding for sound equipment as their playground at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado. We want to make our gardens as child and dog friendly as possible so took notes of how the kids used this simple system to have fun [photo 3].

these three photos reference the post below, "PGPP on Instagram"

Hello all! 

We started an Instagram account about a week ago. Follow along for posts of our work, landscape designer lifestyle, and to see photos of what inspires us! All of the photos in the stream are our own, be it our work or our capture.

To find us, click the Instagram icon (of the camera) at the bottom of the page, or search for us: @privategardenspublicplaces. We have tagged ourselves in all of our designs and photos of our works in progress. We also have been utilizing the hashtag of #pgpp to signify our work and some of our lifestyle pictures.

Looking forward to seeing you on Instagram and following along to see what it is that inspires you through gardens, nature, plants, followers, architecture, art and design!

How To Design A Garden, Part 1: Inspiration

1. a volunteer plant, just a few sprouts coming up cracks in pavement beside a sighting of tiny street art on Abbot Kinney Blvd., in Venice, CA
2. the way plants form themselves, naturally, into pleasing patterns; from a hike with a vista in the Pacific Palisades of Los Angeles, CA
3. found objects from an afternoon walk around Venice, CA: a perfect 'Iceberg' rose, a heart medallion, and an old book called "Outdoor Lore" 

| these three photos reference the post below, "How To Design A Garden, Part 1: Inspiration"

If you take time to look and are open, you find gardens, plants, design, architecture, beautiful spaces and gorgeous details everywhere. Whether it's a little volunteer plant, just a few sprouts coming up from a crack in the pavement next to a sighting of tiny street art on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, California [See Image 1]; or the way plants form themselves, naturally, into pleasing patterns that you notice on a hike with a vista, like this one at Los Liones in the Pacific Palisades of Los Angeles [See Image 2] — if you let it, inspiration for your garden can strike you any time you are aware.

The first step in designing your garden is to get outside and turn yourself on to details: 

Go outdoors. Take a walk.

• Notice things: what you like, what you don't.
• Take mental notes of how plants play together, or as solos, the way they take up space.
• What is it that's so nice about your neighbor's garden? Why do you like it?
• And what about the other awful one at the end of the block? What is it that puts you off about it?
• Think about which textures, shapes, and look of plants draws you to them.
• What architectural styles most please you?
• What is it about the design and details of that the patio at your favorite restaurant that makes the hours melt away?

If you have the means, visit some public gardens. If you are traveling, seek them out.

• Allow your mind to be open to taking notes of what you like and what you don't.
• Don't worry about how to fit this into your landscape at this time, this process will happen organically, certain things will just hit you and stand out.
• You'll know what you can use and what you can't in due time.

Think about use of space. 

• Not only how to maximize it, also how to make it comfortable and what about the spaces you love makes you want to stay there.
• Walk around a nursery or botanical garden.
• Take a little notepad and write down which plants you particularly like.
• Let all this noticing and thinking simmer.

Don't get ahead of yourself.

• For the time being, let your brain do the work of beginning to form a plan for your garden without you consciously trying to synthesize it or control it.
• Relish this time of openness and exploration of the outside world.
• Cherish the time you spend outside, letting your personal landscape style root and come alive.
• There will be plenty of tough decisions to make in soon to get your garden in the ground. For now, just be open to the what is around you.

And let it inspire you.

You never know what you can find. For example, last year, on a walk near my house one sunny afternoon, I found these three things: a most perfect iceberg rose, a heart medallion, and this old book on "Outdoor Lore" [See Image 3]. I found them because I was in the moment and I wasn't looking in, I was looking out. Upon my return home I felt peaceful, lucky, and amazed that on a quiet afternoon, there is beauty which the world will just give you if you notice it. If you allow it to happen, this is how the inspiration for your garden will come: as a collection of found objects, that, found and observed separately, work together perfectly, somehow. I can't make a garden from this, no. Do I know that I am open enough to inspiration and details that I can use my sensitivity to create something well-thought, pleasing, beautiful and effective? Yes. Have confidence in that. It's a joy.

Up & Running

PGPP website and blog is now up and running! Come back here for weekly updates as to what Private Gardens, Public Places is up to and links to other interesting and inspiring landscape design based items.