Demystifying Planting Design Terms Part Two - Garden Theme 

In part one of Demystifying planting themes, we discussed Garden “Styles”.  In general terms, garden styles are typically based on historical periods and/or geographical influences.  The chosen style sets the overall mood and character of the space.

Theme focuses on a unifying concept within the design.  Themes can refer to colour, season, ecological benefits,  activity, geography or even a specific plant collection.  Themes can personalize the space to a particular emotional or functional need.  

 Themes

A “theme” for a landscape design usually refers to a focus on a single characteristic or favourite element. For example, a specific colour, or a colour range of floral display.  A garden theme evokes a certain mood and feeling or impact, for example: romantic, wild and majestic, luxury, playful, contemplative, rustic, captivating and dramatic, therapeutic, social, etc.  Depending on the size of any given landscape, it is possible to incorporate several varying themes.  

Setting up a themed garden, or a few, has many benefits.  If you have a Potager garden, separating sections into themes such as veggie gardens, herb gardens or orchard plantings, can help you orient your yard so you know what is planted where.

Season or Time

It goes without saying that a theme based on a season requires the strongest show during that specific season. Plant flowering times are the main consideration, although fall colour or winter branch structure are also key factors  A winter garden remains visually planted throughout the winter months.  This is achieved by anchoring the beds with evergreen trees and shrubs.  Choosing plants with peeling bark, colourful berries and red, yellow or orange twigs, will serve as living decorations all winter.

A garden theme may also be based on a time of day, Moonlight or evening gardens rely on colours and shapes that capture or deflect light that appear to glow after the sun sets.  Some flowers emit a beautiful fragrance in the evening, grasses and branching can dance in the wind, and sensory gardens evoke feelings and memories.  Many garden themes are multipurposed like the evening gardens that display characteristics to attract certain nocturnal pollinators or lighting that summons guests to  venture a little future at the hour of day we don’t usually traverse a garden space calling attention to features and casting shadows.

Photos By Richard Bloom

Photo By Bower & Branch

Colour

To restrict your planting scheme to one colour may sound a little dull, but by reining in the contrasts, brings calmness and creates more purposeful meaningful impact. Limiting your palette can reveal the amazing variety of shades within one area of the colour spectrum. For example, all white-themed plantings feature tones ranging from 'pure' white to cooler whites with hints of blue or purple, and warmer, creamier whites that have touches of yellow. Colour schemes or ranges, red, orange-red, blue, blue/purple, for example, are quite common and obviously will help to create unity in a garden design.

Pollinator Friendly

A pollinator garden is a garden that is planted predominately with flowers that provide nectar or pollen for a range of pollinating insects.  Many pollinating insects can only exploit particular shapes or sizes of flowers. To support pollinator diversity, you must cater to all shapes and sizes of insect mouthparts. This can be accomplished by planting a diversity of flower types.  Plan for a succession of flowers throughout the whole growing season.  Bird baths, water features or even just a small container of water are often featured in pollinator gardens to ensure all have access for drinking.  A sensory garden that displays a seasonally interesting tapestry with passive elements like frost and changing shapes brought to you by seedheads or form changes.

Photo Courtesy: Sissinhurst Castle-garden by Bill H

Geographically Influenced 

A theme dictated by geographical influences will often transform a “problem area” into a beautiful focal point.  A Rock Garden - in the form of a rockery or an alpine garden and a crevice garden -  is an example of a theme that may be dictated by the geography of the given site.  Certain species of plants have evolved to be heat and drought-tolerant and to thrive in poor soils.  These plants must stand up to the reflected heat from the stone and be adept at reaching their roots in narrow cracks in search of moisture.  The beauty of a well-planned rock garden is the rocks and plants work together to enhance the total impact.

Photo Courtesy of: Gabriella Herman

Photo Courtesy of: OSCseeds.com

Creating a Bog Garden is a very practical way of dealing with a low-lying area that is prone to waterlogging.  Through careful plant selection, the designer can turn a slow-draining spot into a beautiful attraction.  As with alpine plants, marginal aquatic plants have evolved to withstand periodic or frequent bouts of standing water. 

Sensory Garden 

All gardens appeal to the senses in one way or another, as every plant bears individual characteristics that entice different senses. Sensory gardens strive to maximize the sensory impact that the garden has on its visitors.  Sensory gardens are user-friendly and encourage garden guests to touch, taste, admire, and listen.  Gently winding paths lead the visitor to experience it all.  Peeling bark, the soft touch of the velvety leaves of lamb’s ear or the fluffy cushion of woolly thyme underfoot all serve to indulge our sense of touch.  Visually, the inclusion of contrasting colours and textures can be stunning.  Fragrant blooms such as lilac, lavender, Gardenia and rose delight the olfactory system.  Some flower parts are edible such as Calendula, squash blossoms, rose hips and of course, we would be amiss if we didn’t mention the plethora of herbs that emit delicious scents when crushed.  A variety of grasses provide movement and a relaxing rustling sound on windy days.  The garden can indeed be a full sensory experience.  

Collection
Many 'green-thumb' clients require the inclusion of certain plant species. The landscape designer must not only include those plants but must set up the garden for the most advantageous display of the desired materials.  This typically means the blending of the desired plants with similar, yet supportive materials.  Some collectors may prefer a certain group of plants based on common attributes or characteristics like tropical plants or desert-like plants.  Increasingly, gardeners are showing an interest in plants indigenous to their location, given the rapid rate of urbanization and resultant decline in the natural habitat.

Photo Courtesy of: Lilies Water Gardens UK & Pacific Horticulture, Deb Caulderon

There are plenty of other garden themes to incorporate into a landscape design, including, but not limited to: a cut flower garden, a rain garden, a shade garden or fairy garden. Choosing a garden theme is not only a practical way to narrow down the seemingly limitless plant possibilities, it also allows the client to showcase their own personality and to have fun within their own personal Eden.  

Citations:

“Style, Theme and Form”. Landscape Design Manual. 2014 Pg 48-49

“Plants for a White Themed Border”. Gardenersworld.com