So that your thinking may eventually be focused on a plan for your property it is necessary to recall the fact that over the centuries there have been developed throughout the world many different styles of gardening. They were usually the results of two, or possibly three, natural conditions. First of all, climate, which is not the same the world over, definitely plays a large part in determining the type of gardening you will carry on in your particular part of the country. Land form or "topography" also had a great deal to do with the development of styles in gardening. The third influence or controlling factor has been the native plant material.
Effect of Climate
Here is an example of how climate affects gardens: in locales like southern France, Spain, and Iraq the heat is often intense, so you will find water an integral part of the garden styles of those countries. For the presence (and especially the sound) of water has a psychologically cooling effect; it makes one feel that the air is cooler than it actually is.
The same high temperatures that made the use of water desirable in landscape composition in those countries also made the element of shade an important part of any garden design. Hence, we see there many alleys, which are walks or promenades enclosed on both sides and on top, and therefore completely shaded by the foliage of growing plants; and we also encounter many vine-covered pergolas in such hot areas.
Effect of Topography
The element of land form played an extremely important part in the gently rolling landscapes of the English gardens. The terraced gardens so typical of Italian gardens that surround sumptuous villas were also a result of the existing land form, in this case the presence of many steep hillsides. Retaining walls were constructed in those gardens for two reasons. They solved the problem of erosion and at the same time they made possible the construction of flat surfaces on which formally designed areas could be laid out.
That is probably the most obvious example of the effect of topography on style in gardens, but there is also the case of the gardens of Versailles in France.
In Versailles, exactly the opposite land condition prevailed. The ground was so flat that much of the water could not be removed and it soon became stagnant. A system of drainage ditches was therefore dug and the water that was drained off was funneled into large basins which became an the plant material did not force a style of gardening, but a style can quickly be identified once certain plant material is seen. For example, the tall, finger-like cypress trees are characteristic accents in paintings of Italian landscapes as well as pictures of Italian gardens. Also, the rounded tree forms with more or less irregular trunks of the typical stone pine (Pinus cembra) are commonly seen in Italian landscapes. Gardens in England, where important part of the landscape picture. The result was immense garden areas built on flat surfaces with water as their main feature.
Effect of Native Plants
The third factor responsible for styles in gardens is the native plant growth of a particular area, but this must be qualified. Actually the atmosphere is moist, can be identified by their luxuriant growth of vines and shrubs and their nearly perfect turf.
Diverse American Styles
If all these conditions - climate, topography and native plants - could be put in one nation, we would expect to find there all types and styles in gardening, and that is exactly what we have in the United States. As you know, we have almost every extreme of weather, climate, topography and plant material available within our borders.
In fact, even in such a small state as New Jersey there are mountainous terrains, large sandy areas of practically level land, and gently rolling land with excellent soil conditions. There are areas in New Jersey where the predominating trees are conifers and other areas, just a few miles away, where no conifers of any importance are found, practically all the trees like calamondin citrus tree being deciduous.
In the United States people can buy properties with rushing streams or placid bodies of water on them; other pieces of property lie in the midst of veritable deserts. Therefore, it is important to take stock of your type of topography, climate, and plant material so you can put together the ingredients that will give you a garden best suited to your particular location. - 30228
Effect of Climate
Here is an example of how climate affects gardens: in locales like southern France, Spain, and Iraq the heat is often intense, so you will find water an integral part of the garden styles of those countries. For the presence (and especially the sound) of water has a psychologically cooling effect; it makes one feel that the air is cooler than it actually is.
The same high temperatures that made the use of water desirable in landscape composition in those countries also made the element of shade an important part of any garden design. Hence, we see there many alleys, which are walks or promenades enclosed on both sides and on top, and therefore completely shaded by the foliage of growing plants; and we also encounter many vine-covered pergolas in such hot areas.
Effect of Topography
The element of land form played an extremely important part in the gently rolling landscapes of the English gardens. The terraced gardens so typical of Italian gardens that surround sumptuous villas were also a result of the existing land form, in this case the presence of many steep hillsides. Retaining walls were constructed in those gardens for two reasons. They solved the problem of erosion and at the same time they made possible the construction of flat surfaces on which formally designed areas could be laid out.
That is probably the most obvious example of the effect of topography on style in gardens, but there is also the case of the gardens of Versailles in France.
In Versailles, exactly the opposite land condition prevailed. The ground was so flat that much of the water could not be removed and it soon became stagnant. A system of drainage ditches was therefore dug and the water that was drained off was funneled into large basins which became an the plant material did not force a style of gardening, but a style can quickly be identified once certain plant material is seen. For example, the tall, finger-like cypress trees are characteristic accents in paintings of Italian landscapes as well as pictures of Italian gardens. Also, the rounded tree forms with more or less irregular trunks of the typical stone pine (Pinus cembra) are commonly seen in Italian landscapes. Gardens in England, where important part of the landscape picture. The result was immense garden areas built on flat surfaces with water as their main feature.
Effect of Native Plants
The third factor responsible for styles in gardens is the native plant growth of a particular area, but this must be qualified. Actually the atmosphere is moist, can be identified by their luxuriant growth of vines and shrubs and their nearly perfect turf.
Diverse American Styles
If all these conditions - climate, topography and native plants - could be put in one nation, we would expect to find there all types and styles in gardening, and that is exactly what we have in the United States. As you know, we have almost every extreme of weather, climate, topography and plant material available within our borders.
In fact, even in such a small state as New Jersey there are mountainous terrains, large sandy areas of practically level land, and gently rolling land with excellent soil conditions. There are areas in New Jersey where the predominating trees are conifers and other areas, just a few miles away, where no conifers of any importance are found, practically all the trees like calamondin citrus tree being deciduous.
In the United States people can buy properties with rushing streams or placid bodies of water on them; other pieces of property lie in the midst of veritable deserts. Therefore, it is important to take stock of your type of topography, climate, and plant material so you can put together the ingredients that will give you a garden best suited to your particular location. - 30228
