The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Art Of Landscape Architecture

A Bridge at Leatherton, Dartmoor, England.


A Rough Stone Bridge in the Park on the Estate of Prince Puckler von Muskau.

The problem, here as elsewhere, is to humour and conquer nature and yet, to all appearance, still keep her character intact. Before the planting of trees and shrubs and flowers, before, usually, even the final disposition of the paths and roads, comes this modulation of the surface of the earth, for it really amounts to this, for not only existing natural conditions should be harmonized and overcome without losing the characteristic topography of the place, but due regard should be given also to the general appearance of the scenery immediately outside of the place, and even miles away, and thus the keynote of the scenery of the region be kept continually in mind.

To do this work in the proper spirit, and in a really skilful manner, is perhaps the most difficult undertaking that the landscape gardener will have to master. There are niceties in the details of shaping the ground, the execution of which will not be easy of accomplishment. An active movement of the surface will have to be maintained that is not expressed by either of the words rolling or levelling, and yet both have their value in describing the process. The higher portions are made, or become, lower, overcome by the reaction of the next swell. Nothing is regular. There should be conflict and contrast, and for a moment or longer, harmony and restfulness. The lawn should be like the waves of the sea or a lake beating on the shores of varied coast lines of trees and shrubs, with the flowers acting like the foam and spray, thrusting themselves forward on much the same lines of contrast, conflict, and yielding. The chief art, however, lies in keeping the essential spirit of the scenery pervasive and recurrent at irregular intervals throughout.