FORMAL GARDENS
There is unlimited scope in designing gardens in formal and
semi-formal styles, but these are more suitable for the larger
forms of minigardens rather than the small bowl type. This
style of garden always attracts a great deal of attention, and
rightly so, but it calls for much more care in design and construction.
The design must be one that is as perfect as possible
in balance, proportion and symmetry, and is usually based on
geometrical patterns. Trees should be formal and of classical
outline and plants of the neat and compact, slow-growing types
so that the overall pattern of the garden can be kept without
undue over growing.
There are four main bases of accepted formal design:
1.A centre-piece or court (circular, rectangular or regular
shape) from which lines or paths radiate (a) diagonally to
corners, or (b) in straight crosses from centre to bisect each side,
or (c) a circular or rectangular frame round the centre plot joined
by narrow paths, forming neat and regular-shaped beds in the
margins between. Arches or pergolas can be introduced over the
paths. The centre-piece may include a feature such as a statue,
pool, or sundial, etc.
2.A design may be formed against a background of treillage.
a miniature wall, fencing, screen, hedging, or grove of trees,
This can usefully have a centre-piece such as an ornamental
gateway, a wall niche, perhaps a wall fountain and semi-circular
pool, or a semi-circular court, or broad steps as leading down
from a terrace. Paths and symmetrical shaped beds are then laid
out formally.
3.The Even Balance style of design is useful for the long,
narrow-shaped trough such as a window-box. In this, one half
of the garden is designed and constructed as a "mirror reflection"
of the other half, the "weight" of the design being mainly at each
end, and probably a minor centre feature being developed. This
design can be modelled round a path running down the length
or a longish ornamental pool with narrower pathway around it.
4.Then there is the style of design in which geometrically
shaped beds are arranged to form a colourful and regular pattern
in the centre, and taller trees, plants or features can be arranged
around the perimeter.
These four basic designs are further varied by arranging different levels such as raised terraces, or a central part lowered
to make a sunk garden. Paths, courts and steps can be made
with small pieces of flat stone or cement which can also be used
to represent regular paving stones, flags, random squares, crazy
paving, stepping stones and paving stones sunk in "grass".
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