An important idea in all design work is the idea of unifying space by using elements that manage to tie things together. This can be done in many ways, for instance, lining a path and framing your planters with the same cheerful primroses or creating a similar edging with decorative stones or ornamental grasses. The major idea here is that you want your garden to work as a cohesive aesthetic space, that is, as a single visually pleasing work of art. The individual pieces should work in the same ways as the various elements of a painting.
Choosing an actual theme for your garden can help you to narrow down number of choices you'll have to examine as you plan it. There are many kinds of themes that can be used to help you mentally organize your garden ranging from whimsical to literary depending on what you want out of your garden.
One way of selecting a theme is by starting with any negative conditions that might hinder your garden growth. You'll be happiest if you create a garden that is perfect for your climate and your needs. If your garden is going to be in a harsh climate with a short growing season, make sure you choose a theme that will make your garden attractive during the cooler seasons as well.
Rock gardens and zen gardens can be created with some fairly hearty shrubs and a few pieces of garden statuary that won't be damaged by winter weather. As you plan a garden that relies primarily on stone and statuary, remember to pay as much attention to the spaces created around your objects as to the objects themselves. Textured backgrounds, like gravel and sand, become part of this kind of design and must be carefully considered to compliment the other textures and shapes of your design. Textured objects like this wood fountain (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=294) invoke the presence of nature (and provide contrast and even color) in a garden that seems too plain. The most attractive gardens of this kind create a sparse, clean and incredibly serene landscape. Every element must be placed with conscious regard to every other element.
There are many other kinds of themes that you can work with in your garden. A striking and interesting garden can be created by using just one flower color. These monochromatic gardens are interesting because, as in a zen garden, similarities draw attention to differences making texture, height and spacing increasingly important. Different textures treat colors in different ways so be sure to choose flowers that bloom in similar hues of your color of choice. If you choose a single-colored theme, add interest by planting a few vegetables in the right hue.
If you are trying to be certain that you will have something usable (perhaps edible) think of the kinds of vegetables that will grow best and be most useful to you and see if you can create a theme around it. The French kitchen garden has been a long-time standard in residential gardens, and recently pizza gardens have found popularity in many areas.
A pizza garden grows as many little elements that any pizza maker could want, from a variety of tomatoes, peppers, onion and garlic for sauce, spinach, squash or artichoke toppings to basils and oregano and thyme for seasoning. Many of these are created in circles and designed in angled slices. A pizza garden is an excellent garden to grow and tend to with children and will provide you with an excellent array of fresh herbs.
Other edible themes include growing a collection of flavorful herbs for creating herbal teas. One might try creating a garden with the species and delights mentioned in the texts of a famous author. An herb garden can also be the solution to tight space and poor soil. Many herbs grow excellently in planters like this homey basket like planter http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=751 or this graceful urn-like planter http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=771.
Various plantings are able to attract different creatures. The most common of these themes is the butterfly/bird garden. The cheerful behaviors of butterflies are often a pleasure to watch and it is quite easy to draw the creatures near. They simply love bright flowers and are easily pleased by a few basic modifications to most gardens. Flowers from the warm side of the color spectrum (red, orange, yellow) and vivid pinks and purples will help attract butterflies, especially if placed in a very sunny spot. Take a look at some reference material to find out what kinds of butterflies are natural to your area and what kinds of plants to which they are most attracted. Butterflies also appreciate a bit of water so a bird bath like these http://www.garden-fountains.com/Categories.bok?category=Bird+Baths will work well. Remember not to use pesticides in a butterfly garden.
Most importantly, your garden theme should please you and reflect a bit of the personality that you bring to your garden. Themes are a great way to experiment with growing and can have interesting results. Not everything comes out as planned so be flexible and be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the area you are gardening.
Related Articles
Simplicity With Fountains In Garden Design
By: Elizabeth Jean | 14/09/2006 | Advice
Simplicity has always been the basis of good design, and adding a garden fountain is no exception. Besides, good garden design is nearly as easy as it is simple! It's when you complicate things that issues arise.
Donatello's Fountain
By: Elizabeth Jean | 17/09/2006 | Advice
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, universally known as "Donatello", was born in Florence around 1385 and was laid to rest there in 1465.
Before The Dirt: Pre-Plan Your Garden
By: Elizabeth Jean | 03/11/2006 | Advice
Purpose
The first step in planning a garden is probably determining what kind of garden you would like to have. Gardens range in style and purpose so it is important to have a clear idea of the kind of garden you are trying to grow.
Landscaping For Small Space
By: Elizabeth Jean | 03/11/2006 | Advice
Having a small yard area does not prevent you from having a beautiful space that you will enjoy. It does, however, require planning and a bit more ingenuity than the average garden.
Using Unusual Garden Features
By: Elizabeth Jean | 04/11/2006 | Advice
In many ways, gardens are very personal creations, each choice and each hour of tending yields specific results. After several seasons, however, the garden you dreamed may have never bloomed or no longer pleases you as you thought it might.
How To Light Your Garden Fountain
By: Elizabeth Jean | 04/11/2006 | Advice
As with any lighting project it is important to think about the shape of the objects being lit. This is, perhaps, even more true of garden fountains. Gardens at night take on new shapes and shadows.
How To Create A Butterfly Garden
By: Elizabeth Jean | 13/11/2006 | Advice
Creating a butterfly garden is a little different from the standard flower garden, but that does not mean you need to be without any favorite flowers or fragrances. Many butterfly attractants are just as attractive to humans as they are to butterflies.
Solar Powered Water Fountains
By: Elizabeth Jean | 18/05/2007 | Gardening
Why Solar Power?
With the high cost of fossil fuels rising everyday, alternative energy sources are always being sought. Solar power is nothing new but finding different ways to apply this "free" energy has become more popular. Large solar panels have always been available as a source for heating swimming pools...
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most profitable fountain in the world
By: uma | 19-11-2006
My friends just came back from Italy , they spent there around 10 euro in fountains , I wonder what is the most profitable fountain in the world
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Advice Articles
Genealogy And Identity Theft
By: Bill Protresi | 06/09/2008
Studies have confirmed that most of the identity thefts happen through the literal theft by friends, fellow workers, relatives, purses or mails, or fraudulent address changes.
Articles Concerning Identity Theft
By: Bill Protresi | 06/09/2008
Identity theft is when someone else assumes your personal information and poses as you. Therefore it's not only just a question of stealing credit card numbers. There are several ways and places where your personal information can be stolen by the identity thieves.
Top Tips for Online Shopping
By: Martin Davis | 06/09/2008
With the invention of the internet buying goods has become even simpler and certainly in some cases cheaper. In fact when it comes to shopping online there are thousands of places from which you can buy a variety of goods from. However, as well as having its advantages there are disadvantages one needs to be aware of and which can cause you problems.
Breathe Into Your Stomach To Control Panic
By: Kevin Sinclair | 06/09/2008
One of the crucial things to remember while you are in a panic attack is keep breathing. It becomes extremely necessary to breathe in the course of the attack, as you need to regularize oxygen flow into the blood stream as otherwise there is a severe constraint on the efficacy of the blood flow that in turn ensures control on the mind and the body.
10 Tips for Better Communication
By: William Lee | 05/09/2008
We all know that being uncomfortable speaking in groups, or for that matter being uncomfortable speaking to anyone at all is never a good feeling. It can make the working day go by so much worse and make you dread and stress times when you will need to use your communication skills.
Here are just a few ways for you to improve your communication skills, just by knowing they person closest to you: yourself.
The Benefits of Customer Service Training
By: sheila Mulrennan | 04/09/2008
There are a growing number of business services that offer customer service training for other companies and establishments. Some of these trainings are done in an actual institutional setting. Others are available as a purely virtual learning experience via the Internet.
What to Expect in a Customer Service Course
By: sheila Mulrennan | 04/09/2008
Businesses that allow their personnel to undergo a customer service course have an advantage over those that do not bother to provide adequate training to their customer service staff.
9 Ways to a Successful Mindset
By: David Schaefer | 03/09/2008
Learning how to focus and nurture the mind to achieve goals is a primary path for successful results. Understanding and implementing proper techniques for a success mindset can reap huge benefits. Learn about the 9 ways to achieve a mindset for success.
More from Elizabeth Jean
Using Wall Fountains In Garden Planning
By: Elizabeth Jean | 12/02/2008 | Gardening
If you have a beautiful and stunning garden filled with exotic plants and flowers, or even just lilies and carnations, and you are looking for some way to add a new and exciting element to your garden planning, you should consider adding wall fountains. Wall fountains may be exactly what...
Rose Garden Designs Using Cast Stone Wall Fountains
By: Elizabeth Jean | 09/02/2008 | Gardening
Rose gardens and rose garden designs are typically quite stunning on their own, but if you are looking for a spectacular way to make them even more dramatic and stunning, you should consider adding cast stone wall fountains to the mix. Cast stone wall fountains are quite beautiful, and can...
Outdoor Patio Design Using Water Wall Fountains
By: Elizabeth Jean | 06/02/2008 | Home Improvement
Trying to plan out and landscape your entire outdoor patio can be difficult, but adding wall fountains can make it simply beautiful and bring things to life. Wall fountains take up very little space, meaning you have less to landscape while still offering an amazing outdoor patio design piece.
Hanging wall...
Urban Garden Design With Wall Fountains
By: Elizabeth Jean | 29/01/2008 | Gardening
Garden and landscape design is a relatively recent art form in a modern sense that dates back to the 14th century Italian villas of the Renaissance for its cognomen and spiritual center. Designing a good garden requires knowledge of several disciplines, including topography, land usage, horticulture and architectural elements.
Designing for...
Outdoor Deck Design Using Wall Fountains
By: Elizabeth Jean | 28/01/2008 | Gardening
One of the ways that a lot of people improve the appearances of their backyards is through adding deck additions, and one way to spruce up your deck design is through the addition of fountains. Wall fountains make exceptional additions to any deck design, because decks have plenty of the...
Modern Garden Design With Wall Fountains
By: Elizabeth Jean | 24/01/2008 | Gardening
Choosing the right water features for your modern garden designs involves a lot more than simply the aesthetic flavor. Wall fountains are becoming increasingly popular as a staple feature of entryways, patios, decks and lobbies not to mention extraordinarily popular in gardens and yards. Take your time to choose the...
Lawn Design With Concrete Fountains
By: Elizabeth Jean | 20/01/2008 | Gardening
Many backyards have large landscaped lawns, but this can be boring if there is little visual appeal added to the yard such as concrete water fountains, which are regarded as quite aesthetically pleasing. While large lawns can look amazing when well taken care of but adding something extra to them...
Gazebo Designs Using Water Wall Fountains
By: Elizabeth Jean | 19/01/2008 | Gardening
If you have a large yard and enough space for a gazebo, you may consider placing water wall fountains on your gazebo and surrounding areas. Gazebos add a lot of aesthetic beauty to a large backyard or garden but they are still somewhat plain in appearance providing a good design...
Self Improvement 
