Landscaping Design for Vintage Homes, Formal Styles
This is an article that I wrote for Susan's Vintage Homes newsletter. I haven't gotten any feedback from her so I don't know if this is going to be fairly heavily edited or go out as written.
Landscaping Design for Vintage Homes, Formal Styles
Landscaping for historic and vintage homes can take several forms, but there are two broad classifications that should be selected from before you start to choose your landscape. These are formal and informal. These two classifications may be mixed but only with great care, otherwise the landscape looks messy instead of planned.
Part of the decision between formal and informal can be made on the style of your home. Georgian and Federalist style homes look natural with a formal landscape style.
After you decide on formal or informal, then you can choose on what style of landscaping that you want. The most used formal styles are French, Italianate or Mediterranean. All the formal styles are known for long axial views with a symmetrical layout using straight lines and severe angles. Formal water features and evergreen hedges are also hallmarks for these styles. Box or yew hedges are slow growing and can be kept clipped in the formal styles easily. Focal points are usually formal urns or statuary. The formal styles convey power and control over nature.
In French gardens the only freedom of expression is usually a water feature and even it is kept fairly under control. Roses are kept in discrete beds and are kept clipped and under control. Knot gardens were invented in French gardens and are still used today. Very tight, intricate patterns are fundamental for French knot gardens.
In Italianate gardens, framing is the rule. Long straight walks with tall columnar cypress lining the paths. Italianate gardens are where statuary comes into its own. Formal statuary, especially those which invoke the history of Italy and Rome. Gods and goddesses, heroes and beasts are all used as focal points in Italianate gardens.
Mediterranean gardens are the least formal of the formal styles. Using sun-loving, drought-tolerant plants these can also be the most successful for Oklahoma. Incorporate a lot of sand and fine gravel in the beds to help drainage. Rosemary and lavender are the choice for hedges. Vines over pergolas and lattices are used extensively.
As with any style of garden, create a sense of unity. Repeating plants and colors also help to create your theme.
Part of the decision between formal and informal can be made on the style of your home. Georgian and Federalist style homes look natural with a formal landscape style.
After you decide on formal or informal, then you can choose on what style of landscaping that you want. The most used formal styles are French, Italianate or Mediterranean. All the formal styles are known for long axial views with a symmetrical layout using straight lines and severe angles. Formal water features and evergreen hedges are also hallmarks for these styles. Box or yew hedges are slow growing and can be kept clipped in the formal styles easily. Focal points are usually formal urns or statuary. The formal styles convey power and control over nature.
In French gardens the only freedom of expression is usually a water feature and even it is kept fairly under control. Roses are kept in discrete beds and are kept clipped and under control. Knot gardens were invented in French gardens and are still used today. Very tight, intricate patterns are fundamental for French knot gardens.
In Italianate gardens, framing is the rule. Long straight walks with tall columnar cypress lining the paths. Italianate gardens are where statuary comes into its own. Formal statuary, especially those which invoke the history of Italy and Rome. Gods and goddesses, heroes and beasts are all used as focal points in Italianate gardens.
Mediterranean gardens are the least formal of the formal styles. Using sun-loving, drought-tolerant plants these can also be the most successful for Oklahoma. Incorporate a lot of sand and fine gravel in the beds to help drainage. Rosemary and lavender are the choice for hedges. Vines over pergolas and lattices are used extensively.
As with any style of garden, create a sense of unity. Repeating plants and colors also help to create your theme.
posted by Wayne @ 1:24 PM
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