Stepping Stones to Perennial Garden Design
Site Assessment
Viewing Angles
Where is the best location for your perennial garden? Does a main viewing area exist? Do several possible areas exist? Perennial gardens are meant to be seen. Choosing a highly visible area is important. For the sake of an example, let's say you have chosen to place your garden in the private area.
Stand in the location where you and your family spend most of their time in the back yard. For many, this is the deck or patio area. What do you see? What places catch your eye? Is there an unattractive area that you want to draw attention away from? We are creatures of habit and subconsciously, we may look to a certain area all the time. When sitting on your patio is there a certain way you always angle the chairs? Why do you do this? Does this center you in your domain? Are you avoiding an undesirable area? Try turning your lawn chairs and view your yard from a different angle. You may be surprised!
Does a focal point already exist? A focal point causes your eye to momentarily stop as you visually sweep an area. You briefly focus on the area and then move on. A focal point does not have to dominate an area, only highlight. If such an area exists, perhaps a garden can enhance it. Earlier you were to determine where your viewing angles were (they are also called sight lines) - where do you look? Hopefully you spent some time looking out of windows, patio doors, patio or deck areas and other places from where you view.
Determine a main location. This will become your design base. All other view locations are still important, but you need a place to start.
