HOW ABOUT A THEME GARDEN ?

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 .

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 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.

Elizabeth Jean wrote this article for Garden Fountains.