The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Art Of Landscape Architecture
"Sumptuous in its decorative flourishes, surrounded with high terraces, rich multi-coloured parterres of flowers, studded with marble statues and alive with the movement of waters; what a contrast would this be to the tremendous naked grandeur of the setting of mountains? A few steps aside in the woods, and palace and gardens would have vanished from view, as by a magic wand, to make room again for the undisturbed loneliness and majestic wilderness of nature. Farther on, perhaps, a bend in the road would open up an unexpected vista, where, in the distance, the work of art like a realized fairy dream would show through the dark firs, glowing in the light of the setting sun, or rising up over the mysterious darkness of the valley in a mass where, here and there, the tiny sparkles of lighted candles would glow. Would not such a picture be wonderful, and owe its chief beauty largely to contrast? When nature offers her material, the scheme must be different; then the park, an oasis in a broad, flat space, must first create its own environment. Although the same laws are everywhere the foundation of beauty, they have to be interpreted and expressed in various ways. In such a case, v/here no impression by great contrasts can be achieved, one must carefully seek to create a pleasant and gentle, general harmony, bringing into view large elements, such as the distant views which may be secured, into correspondence with the character given to the park. In such a problem the size of the domain becomes a chief consideration. In the former example it is only necessary to embellish a single spot to make all surrounding nature serve one's own purpose. Here, the treatment should extend to the whole region. Examples which lie between these two schemes will require modifications of both propositions and be tastefully treated according to the respective localities. In all these cases the principles I have laid down are basic ones."
Finally, careful consideration should be given to the dimensions of an estate or park with regard to the limitations that the topography, the hills and woodland and water naturally impose on the purchaser. It is easy for a person of means to add field unto field, but the question is, does he secure thereby an estate or park that naturally fits into a well-considered landscape scheme?
If this cannot be done, it would be wise to abandon the scheme altogether and go elsewhere, or else accept the limitations of the smaller place. Nothing is more important than the establishing in the beginning the proper boundaries to a place. Time and study and the best advice are well employed in securing this end.
The illustration of a view from West Point, New York, called the Gates of the Highlands, is given to show to what extent the eye can reach and feel that it contains within its domain a definite landscape picture.
