My enjoyment from excellent gardening comes not only from the finished garden but from the endless hours that I spend designing and preparing the actual garden, from the moment I first have the germ of an idea, to the moment I place the last bush, and plant the last spiraea. All I want, all that I can be, should show through when first a person steps into this bucolic garden, a place of tranquillity and calm where a person can meditate on the tranquil things in life.
Therefore, a water feature, hopefully one that will make a continuously soothing gurgle, with a small stepping-type of waterfall-cum-pond, placed on good-looking slabs of flat rock or boulders with a hint of moss growing on it. A nice water lily or lotus for contrasting color, and perhaps a fish or two. A few ferns and leafy rain-forest type plants placed around the pond, and I'm finished with this stage of my accomplished gardening.
Ideally I would love a big tree to stand in a corner of the garden, with a luscious velvety dark brown trunk that I can just about surround with my arms, overflowing with delightful green leaves spilling onto the ground in natural mosaic. Since I might not always get what I want, I'll settle instead for a few saplings that will one day fulfill my wish.
Since green is my target for the moment, I'd also see about laying a thick shady lawn that you can sink your bare feet into when taking a turn about your garden.
I love the idea of a Zen garden, but prefer colors and lots of plants, so I would incorporate this feature into my skillful landscape gardening efforts by placing a path, naturally made out of rough hewn stone, wandering in a leisurely course through the garden.
And to finish it all off I'd have a little section, unseen from afar, that afforded the curious visitor a wide-angled view of the whole garden, with a sun shade, and a low-lying bench with a few plump cushions strewn carelessly about, and all of it surrounded by a profusion of welcoming geraniums.
In the distance I would set about placing a few boulders, pleasing in stature and color to the eye, surrounded perhaps by a few spiraeas.
And amidst all this excellent splendor I would walk amongst my heartfelt efforts of excellent landscape gardening and sigh in satisfaction and peace. For what more is there to landscape gardening, than the art of discriminating landscape gardening.
That's my dream. Take a few moments to read these articles and fulfill yours.
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