2. LHAP 304 Herbaceous Garden Design

1. LHAP 304:

• Intro to Garden Design

2. Approach to Garden Design:

Begin all design projects with 2 driving questions

What is the FUNCTION of this space?

Select your palette of plants based on the functional requirements, rather than on “this is what I like”, “this is what I know” or “this is what will be pretty”.

What are the existing (or proposed) site conditions?

Consider the environmental conditions in order to ensure success of the plants you select.

3. Templates to choose from (1:25)

Select your template based on the design feel that most appeals to you (pick a different one from second year!)

• Take note of the site characteristics

Choose a Design Focus (if not one from the previous slide, pass it by Elizabeth first).

• Choose a colour scheme and technique

As you learn plants, make a list of which would go well in these places

4. Step 3: Sustainable Focus

Once you have selected a focus that interests you, you need to identify what characteristics will create success…

Pollinator Garden - Butterfly / Hummingbird Pollinator Garden - Bees

For both of these, identify what types of plants attract them…

Sensory (identify the senses and then how you will appeal to each of them. List your intention in the plant list in the notes section)

Medicinal / edible (you will need to do further research and state the value of each plant in the plant list notes section)

Note: A bird garden or wildlife landscape would be a good option, but you’d need to be able to use Woody species to maximise this design style. If you have another idea, you can run it past the Instructor for approval.

5. Designing with Colour

Last year plants were chosen based on bloom time, size and spread.

This year will be the same PLUS

• Colour Scheme will be stated

A Functional purpose (butterflies, bees, edible/medicinal, low water use…)

6. COLOUR

Colour Schemes

• Monochromatic
• Direct Complement
• Split Complement
• Triad
• Analogous
• Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Neutral colours

7. Colours

• Hues

Tints (+white), Tones (+grey) Shades (+black) Use a 12 colour wheel for landscape design

Limit yourself to

3 colours 1 saturation The sun will wash out colours

• White punches holes
• Color can be relative
• Read more Here

8. Colour Moods

Warm colours excite emotions Cool colours are calming.

Warm colours make large places feel smaller Cool colours make small places feel larger.

9. Techniques / approaches

You’ve selected your colour scheme… but now what effect are you going for?

Intensity of color - is your pallet more bold or more pale?

Percentage of foliage to flower anything more than 60% flowers, 40% foliage will appear more “constructed” or man-made

Blending vs Blocking (or Banding) Blending refers to a MIXING of flowers together

Blocking keeps the flowers separate, in chunks Layering

You can use fire as an inspiration and put the red at the bottom, with orange in the mid layer and yellow in the upper canopy (this is the way Alberta forests are naturally in the Fall).

• Seasonal Change

Your colour scheme can change with the seasons, but this is tough because you have to be “bang-on” with flowering times.

10. Next Steps:

Build your plant list, using the template provided (or similar approach) and using a local nursery

Begin drawing circles starting with

• Winter interest
• Spring interest
• Early Summer
• Late Summer/Fall

For clarity, you can make mass planted clouds with centre points to mark where specific plants go (especially required for invasives and other ground covers)

Colour your drawing appropriately and label Finish your spec book with the maintenance document.

See sample on bulletin board of project for reference

11. Always check the rubric!

Look at your design… would you pay $500 for it?