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

Landscape Gardening

Aside from the ability to sec mistakes, it requires an inventive mind to devise new arrangements for groups; but a variety of arrangements they certainly should have in any scheme not intentionally formal.

Single trees or shrubs appear to great advantage when properly placed, and if in all respects good, they add sensibly to the composite beauty of the scene. A single plant will naturally receive more and better attention when standing by itself than though it were in a group with others. For this reason it should have greater individual excellence. It should be fault- less, if that can be. There are many positions about any extensive grounds in which single trees or shrubs will be acceptable units of the composition. The judgment of the designer must point these out; but we may take note that they will usually be comparatively closer to the observer, so that the single plants will always be under critical examination. Such places are, then, to be reserved for specially choice specimens. Any rare or remarkable plant,—not monstrous and deformed,—should be given such a place of prominence. And every specimen plant should be remarkable for its individual perfections of good culture.

There are a great many general and common forms given to groups, but their classification and discussion do not belong here. It is sufficient to repeat that this is another point at which variety is both possible and proper.
There are, of course, some objects which are seen both near by and at a distance. But in the majority of instances an object,—for instance, a tree,—will be most often seen from the same distance.

If it stand at the back of a wood belt, with numerous smaller trees between it and the distant roadway, it may be fairly considered in the background. On the other hand, if it stand close beside a much frequented path or just before the windows of the living room, it is usually seen in the foreground. Between these extremes there is a middle-ground of greater or less extent. The same plant gives exceedingly diverse effects as seen in these three different positions.

A background is made up most naturally of large trees. Here can be used many species of rough and irregular growth which would not look respectable at close range. Trees of which the texture is so coarse as to be inadmissible in the foreground, seem at the background to give but a gentle touch to the otherwise unbroken and monotonous surface. Trees of which the colors would jar upon a fastidious eye if seen too dose, seem modest and pretty at a greater distance. Moreover, a background must be made up with due thought to the most effectual exhibition of what ever lies between it and the observers.