Garden Diary: Framing and screening
Take this cluttered photo of the Brooklyn garden, imagine a golden tree canopy softening the view out, and in your mind's eye erase the field of debris and substitute a planted garden.
Peter Holt, an artist and garden designer (and cyber friend) near Halifax, Nova Scotia, sent me this design sketch for a screen for the back (front?) of the Brooklyn garden.
I like the three-dimensional framing of the white (ethereal) Bacchus mask mounted on the back screen so as to be centered within the rectangle of the front screen. As you move around the garden, the mysterious white face will appear to change position relative to the frame edges, giving a greater sense of depth and visual focus; like a magnet, keeping one's eyes within the garden. Being on the central axis, I imagine it will be particularly effective viewed from within the house.
And if lighted at night, quite a feature.
The varied spacing of the horizontal wooden elements should catch the sunlight in changing patterns throughout the day (similar in concept to the vertically constructed screens Emily has suggested in comments on previous posts).
There are also practical, quotidian advantages to this design ... the screen on the left will hide a composting and maintenance area, possibly even a small tool storage cabinet.
If stained slate gray, this double screen would essentially take the place of the fence at the back of the garden, lending a much more elegant, refined atmosphere than the rough boards of the fencing.
Climbers such as Hydrangea petiolaris or Schizophragma hydrangeoides could be particularly attractive against the dark color.
Question is, can I afford it?
Then proceed ...
I like the three-dimensional framing of the white (ethereal) Bacchus mask mounted on the back screen so as to be centered within the rectangle of the front screen. As you move around the garden, the mysterious white face will appear to change position relative to the frame edges, giving a greater sense of depth and visual focus; like a magnet, keeping one's eyes within the garden. Being on the central axis, I imagine it will be particularly effective viewed from within the house.
And if lighted at night, quite a feature.
The varied spacing of the horizontal wooden elements should catch the sunlight in changing patterns throughout the day (similar in concept to the vertically constructed screens Emily has suggested in comments on previous posts).
There are also practical, quotidian advantages to this design ... the screen on the left will hide a composting and maintenance area, possibly even a small tool storage cabinet.
If stained slate gray, this double screen would essentially take the place of the fence at the back of the garden, lending a much more elegant, refined atmosphere than the rough boards of the fencing.
Climbers such as Hydrangea petiolaris or Schizophragma hydrangeoides could be particularly attractive against the dark color.
Question is, can I afford it?
James Golden