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Deschampsia cespitosa Goldtau. Coltte Charsley
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Buxus sempervirens ball - Colette Charsley
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Coleete Charsley
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Collete Charsley
You Got Rhythm, You Got Music?
According to my dictionary, rhythm is: ‘A strong, regular repeated pattern, a regularly recurring sequence of events, a harmonious sequence or correlation of colours or elements’.
Rhythm is not just about music, it is one of the basic principles of good garden design.
In its broadest sense it is about the spaces and dynamic tension created between objects. It is how objects relate to each other and the spaces between them. In terms of garden design it is about repetition and the strategic placement and use of elements that go towards creating a pleasing garden.
Rhythm creates movement – either physical movement through a garden or the way the eye travels round it. The good news is that the ‘rules’ of rhythm can be applied to any size of garden from a window box up to many acres.
As human beings we are programmed to look for patterns or repetition and there are various ways to achieve this.
It is basically the use of repetition of colour, texture, or shape, which will create rhythm. Using rhythm you can manipulate how your garden is experienced. You can influence the speed at which that experience takes place. Using repetition you can establish a kind of visual pacing of the garden.
The baseline beat is best created using strong repeated forms in various sizes. The more closely together they are placed the quicker the beat. These elements can create the overall feel or theme of the garden and can be man made or plants. You could use a series of obelisks, box balls, a specific shrub or one of the ornamental grass species. In a more formal garden they can be regularly spaced or, for a more natural and perhaps syncopated effect can be randomly placed. Once your eye detects these you will find yourself drawn from one to another. This pattern or rhythm will give a sense of harmony and balance to the garden and hence your enjoyment of it.
Additional rhythms can then be added using colour, texture and shape. This applies to both plants and hard landscaping elements. Do try and use a relatively narrow plant palette around the garden. By all means vary it as conditions suit but I would recommend finding a common theme – be it the same plants or colour or shape – and keep using it. It will pay dividends.
For more information contact colette@charsleydesign.com
t: 01803 722449. m: 07774 827799.
Follow me on Twitter @ColetteCharsley
First published By The Dart May 2014
