For meditation gardens, some of the concerns are the same, some different. Privacy is still very much an issue (since secluded settings are more relaxing than open settings), as is maintenance. But safety goes on a back burner. Here, reflection, not physical activity, takes center stage. Aesthetic considerations, consequently, will carry greater weight.
Most people find plants more relaxing than hardscape, so consider planting hedges to form the walls of such outdoor rooms. If you don't want to wait for hedges to get tall enough to afford privacy, install lattice screens, instead. To satisfy your requirement for plants and provide further privacy, train vine plants to grow up the lattice. Climbing hydrangeas are perennial vines and an excellent choice for shady areas. You have more choices in the sun, including that ever-popular annual, the morning glory.
For a floor, consider a combination of natural materials. You want something interesting into which to gaze, something with distinct textures. For instance, a rustic flagstone patio, with scotch moss planted in the cracks between the stones -- or creeping thyme, if you enjoy landscaping with fragrant plants.
In meditation gardens, a ceiling may come in quite handy. Here, you'll have to choose between aesthetics and functionality. A vine-covered arbor may be more inspiring to gaze up at than a lawn umbrella, but the latter will keep you -- and the books you may be reading -- dry. If you'd like something more solid than an umbrella, consider installing a pergola and covering it with fiberglass.
But water shouldn't be banned entirely from contemplative outdoor rooms. If there's any place in our yards for accessories such as garden fountains and waterfalls, surely it's here! There's nothing like the soothing sound of bubbling water to put us into a reflective mood.
Whatever you decide to incorperate into ypur backyard landscape it is always wise to speak to a profesional landscaper before starting any project.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Backyard landscape Design Considerations
Part of the beauty behind the concept of separate "rooms" in a house is that each unit is unique unto itself. Consequently, you can install a component in the kitchen that looks great there, without worrying that it would look out of place if viewed from the bedroom. The same is true for outdoor living spaces.
Having separate outdoor living spaces allows you to create mini-landscape designs (each somewhat different from the rest) for each of them. Not that you shouldn't still strive for unity across your landscape design, as a whole. But the more successful you are in physically separating one outdoor living space from another, the more flexibility you have to diversify without creating a hodgepodge.
For instance, you may wish to include a storage bin for towels in the pool area. Such an element would be functional and would look fine there. But the problem is, you might not wish to view it from another part of the yard dedicated, say, to meditating in naturalistic surroundings. The answer: screen off the pool area with a tall hedge or fence, effectively creating a "room" separate from the rest of the yard.
You may also want to consider if you need a area for a swing set or a trampoline. If so you may want to consider some type of a surface under these other than grass. Some people alo like to add a horse shoe pit in the backyard for adults to use. When you turn your yard into more than just another project to work on during the weekend you will get a lot more use from it.
Depending on the type of backyard landscape you decide on for your needs you may also have a bit of maitenance to do to keep it looking good. Obviouslly if you have a large grass area that will require mowing. Depending on what part of the country you live in you may also need to overseed in the winter in order to have a yard. The types of plants and trees you plant will also need to be taken into consederation when thinking about how much work you want to have to do.
If you can it is always a good idea to consult a landscape company for ideas. Any good landscaper will have unlimited ideas for you to consider.
Having separate outdoor living spaces allows you to create mini-landscape designs (each somewhat different from the rest) for each of them. Not that you shouldn't still strive for unity across your landscape design, as a whole. But the more successful you are in physically separating one outdoor living space from another, the more flexibility you have to diversify without creating a hodgepodge.
For instance, you may wish to include a storage bin for towels in the pool area. Such an element would be functional and would look fine there. But the problem is, you might not wish to view it from another part of the yard dedicated, say, to meditating in naturalistic surroundings. The answer: screen off the pool area with a tall hedge or fence, effectively creating a "room" separate from the rest of the yard.
You may also want to consider if you need a area for a swing set or a trampoline. If so you may want to consider some type of a surface under these other than grass. Some people alo like to add a horse shoe pit in the backyard for adults to use. When you turn your yard into more than just another project to work on during the weekend you will get a lot more use from it.
Depending on the type of backyard landscape you decide on for your needs you may also have a bit of maitenance to do to keep it looking good. Obviouslly if you have a large grass area that will require mowing. Depending on what part of the country you live in you may also need to overseed in the winter in order to have a yard. The types of plants and trees you plant will also need to be taken into consederation when thinking about how much work you want to have to do.
If you can it is always a good idea to consult a landscape company for ideas. Any good landscaper will have unlimited ideas for you to consider.
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