ELEMENTS OF A FORMAL ROSE GARDEN
Strong Axis – Paths of some nature
be it grass, pebble or other materials provide visual axes that lead to a focal
point. It could be an urn, statue, an
arch or some kind of architectural feature.
At the L’Hay les Roses in France, the most arresting focal point is the
“Dome” and pergola. To frame an axial
view, sculptural forms of evergreen plants, a big urn or statue on a pedestal
are situated at the entrance and exit.
One of the most basic garden layouts is the four-square form, the result
of two straight paths intersecting at right angles to form a cross, yielding
four rectangular or square planting beds.
It could also be some kinds of unique geometric shapes. This could also take the form of four beds
with a focal points at the center of the cross.
It could be an urn, sundial, armillary or punctuated by an upright
pyramidal shaped tree or shrubs. The
William Paca Rose Garden in Annapolis, Maryland is a fine example where in the
center of the formal beds is a Southern Magnolia Tree. Five-to-eight-foot wide beds remain a
favorite layout for small formal garden.
Level Ground –
Throughout history when most of the great formal gardens in Europe were being
established, the site underwent considerable leveling of the terrain. It is hard to create balance and symmetry
when the terrain is undulating waves of slopes and steps. To create the visual effect needed, a formal
garden has to have at least 12 feet by 12 feet minimum area of level space.
Symmetry – The most definitive
feature of a formal garden is the symmetrical layout. Symmetry enables the garden to create order
and balance in the landscape. No matter
what the shape and size of the garden, if you draw a line down the middle of the
formal garden, one side is the exact replica of the other side. English poet, Alexander Pope in his Epistle
to Lord Burlington written in 1731 described the formal gardens:
“…each
Alley has a brother,
And
half the garden just reflects the other.”
Well-Defined Pathways –
Paths should be wide enough to accommodate two people walking side by
side. Evergreen shrubs like boxwood
define the line of the pathway. Gravel,
stone, and brick are good choices for paving.
An edging of brick set three inches above the pathway well defines the
edge. Grass plants also work well.
Pathways are good for outlining the geometric shapes of the parterres and
enhancing the look and order of the overall pattern of the garden.
Walking around or through a formal
garden is a great way to appreciate it.
When I visited the formal garden beds at Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna,
Austria, with very intricate patterns of the formal garden beds, I found it
best to view it from a promontory way across from the garden beds. For an expansive garden, this is the best way
to see the beauty of the garden where you can see the design in its broad
range. In a small garden, ideally the
best way to see it is up close.
Planting Beds and Parterre –
When you think of formal garden, what comes to mind is the classic parterre
created in the 17th century in France. It is an upshot of the
medieval knot garden of the 15th century. The original French parterres were vast and
complex in a number of interesting ways featuring clipped boxwood in swirling
arabesque designs. In the kitchen garden
at Chateau de Villandry in France where vegetables and herbs are planted in eye
catching parterres, the outline of the nine equal square beds of different
design outlined by low box hedges is quite striking. In the Ladies’ Garden at Broughton Castle,
Oxfordshire in England, the box-edged beds are in the shape of fleur de lys and
filled with old garden roses and enclosed with ironstone walls. Today, only public gardens can support the
grandeur of classic French parterres by calling planting beads by the same name
is quite acceptable and endearing.
Structural Appeal – In
the middle of winter when all the plantings are at rest and just the evergreen
and the outline of the beds are visible, the formal garden should still be
interesting to look at because of the underlying architecture of its design. The brickwork, urns, statuary, fountains and
other sculptural objects, the paths and the design of the beds lend a beauty
all its own in the desolate atmosphere of the wintry days. Evergreen also provides a lovely contrast to the serene settings. In my old garden, when the snow was just
starting to stick to the ground, the outline of the garden is quite visible and
the garden still looks great even with all the roses in stick form.
Defined Borders –
Most of the formal gardens in England and France and even in the United States
are bordered by enclosures. However, a
formal rose garden does not have to be enclosed. The contemporary formal rose garden is
usually a garden within a big lawn. A
well-designed layout, a central focal point, brick edging or the use of low,
clipped boxwood, or other evergreen to form the outline of the bed create the
effect of a formal garden within the framework of a big garden.
A
formal garden does not have to be stiffly groomed clipped boxwood trimmed to
perfection. To offset the stiffness of a
formal garden, give your overall landscape an “oomph” for a better word. The best formal gardens should have their own
personality, an element of character, a surprise to make them more
interesting. Into that time-honored layout,
add something to soften the edges so to speak.
Birdbaths,
seating arrangements, pergolas, arbors, obelisks, urns and statues enhance the
beauty of a garden. Unlike the grandeur
of the formal gardens of the Grand Manor Houses of England, the Chateaus of
France and the Mansions of the wealthy robber barons of the United States, the
contemporary formal garden of a true rose gardener is a combination of the
rigidity of the formal garden structure of the past and the practicalities and
charm of the contemporary garden of today.
So use your imagination and go for it.
Nothing like a formal rose garden!
It makes your garden more special.
Roses are not difficult to grow contrary to
popular belief as long as you know what they need. Why do you think Roses have been around for millions of
years? All they need are food, water and sunlight. Just like you
and me.
Here at Rose Gardening World, we’ll educate you about the Rose - our National Floral Emblem
and the state flower of several states. Welcome to the World of Rose
Gardening or Rose Gardening World where Rose Gardening Tips, Rose Growing Advice, Planting a Rose Garden,
Rose Descriptions, Where to Buy Roses, Where to see Rose Gardens, Rose Culture,
Rose History, Rose Events, Rose Verses are all here in one place.
We are constantly updating our
contents so visit Rose Gardening World often. We want to help you
grow Beautiful Roses and we welcome
comments. Take time and smell the roses.
Happy
Rose Gardening!
Check my other blogs:
