Friday, March 11, 2011

Don't worry about flowers

Colorful plants are used to add great accent to a dull garden but here in the sub-tropics we're able to take that approach to a higher degree. A few years ago I was hired to create a pool, patio and landscape plan for a newly built home in a lovely area of Key West. The house was very well designed and beautifully built but had little punch. There was also a desire by the owner/builder to not have a front fence, as is so common in town. My solution was to create a color packed meandering hedge that separates the street from the home entry. The result is that of year round color, a visual barrier and a unique streetscape. Because of infrequent flower production and varying light throughout the year this effect couldn't happen as successfully if I had used flowering shrubs. Createing a bold scheme as this may not be the right strategy for every home, especially one of great historical merit, but here it's a winner.

1 comment:

  1. I guess you're saying that the leaves of the "bushes" are colored? Please post leaf detail so we can see up close:)

    ReplyDelete

About Me

I am a landscape designer based in Key West, Florida and Surry, Maine. I place much attention with the house, not as an adjunct to the garden but as an integral element. This symbiotic relationship will always produce the best and most natural environment. The best description for my views on the relationship between the garden and the house comes from the naturalist Charles Keeler, “landscape design with occasional rooms in case of rain”