Landscaping and Gardening Info

Here we have lesson 2 part two of our landscape gardening book. It talks about the use of the principle of variety in landscaping. As pointed out below, it would seem like variety just couldn’t be found in the same landscaping as the principle of unity in part one of this lesson. Let’s see what is said further about this topic.

Variety

Next to unity stands variety as a fundamental necessity in art. Indeed art is sometimes defined as unity in variety. To make a work of art permanently interesting and pleasing a certain amount of variety is needful.

Obviously there is a certain antagonism between unity and variety. Either one would be comparatively easy to achieve if the other could be disregarded. . Yet the two are not incompatible. It is nearly always possible to secure both in the same composition.

It is possible but not always easy, for the greatest skill of the artist is required to this precise end, viz. to bring together many various elements into one harmonious whole. The beginner need not be surprised or discouraged if he is unable at first to accomplish all that the best artists can accomplish, but he should have faith to believe that a satisfying solution may be reached even in the face of great difficulties.

In landscape gardening variety is, particularly easy to reach - so easy in fact it is nearly always overdone. The landscape gardener is able to gain variety in the following ways, amongst others:

(1) in topography and ground forms;
(2) in grad­ing land;
(3} in the infinite number of trees, shrubs and flowers at his disposal;
(4) in their varied forms, and
(5) colors, and
(6) in the endless combinations in which they may be grouped;
(7) in the introduction of architectural and sculptural embellishments;
(8) in the use of water, still or flowing
(9) in changes of season, of weather and of the hours of the day.

The landscape gardener must have all these resources at his command, but he must use them with great restraint or he will presently find that he has sacrificed his last opportunity for unity of effect.