I’m sure you visit gardens where as soon as you set foot in them, you make a connection of some kind. The setting might evoke solitude, or playfulness, an easy familiarity, an invitation to bask in nature. Your mood lifts. In that moment, it’s the place you want to be.
It may have an atmosphere that is hard to describe; yet you identify with it in some way. Whether your reaction is deeply personal or widely shared with others, you feel affirmed and– pardon the pun– grounded. It can make you feel energetic, contemplative, nostalgic, sombre, or uplifted. It may trigger memories. Sometimes it is sheer beauty that captures our imagination.
In the context of the greater landscape, this elusive quality is best described as sense of place. Battlefields and places of tragedy have it, of course. So do ancient ruins, natural wonders and world heritage sites. Urban landscapes can have such places too, with small parks and mere courtyards acting like little oases of refuge. The best private gardens are no different, and you can create one.
If you don’t live on a large rural property you may never have given this concept much thought. After all, in modern times we associate spatial identity with public gardens, estates and secluded compounds tucked away behind security gates and lots of privet.
Yet the concept of “sense of place” dates to Roman times, when the latin term genius loci, or spirit of place, described a deity who kept watch over a beloved spot. The one constant throughout history has been human connection and meaning in such spots, almost like an extra dimension.
(For a deeper dive into the meaning of sense of place, explore the term on wikipedia and here.)
We no longer ascribe sense of place to the presence of spirits and fairies. But we recognize nonetheless the powerful feelings it can evoke. Whether we articulate it or not, a sense of place is often what we long for in our own gardens.
Sometimes we succeed, sometimes not.
A Garden with Cachet
Among the most famous gardens in the world, Monet’s private hideaway at Giverny, France certainly qualifies as having a sense of place. Its footbridge and shimmering water lilies trigger immediate emotional transcendence, thanks not just to Monet’s fabulous art but also his love of plants and gardening.
Gazing at a Monet painting, the air simply pulses with vibrancy. I’ve never been there in person, but no doubt the real experience is equally mesmerizing — if only through association. It’s the meaning it carries as well as beauty that makes all the difference.
by Claude Monet
Fortunately, a garden doesn’t need fame or water lilies to embody a sense of place. Carefully planned suburban gardens and city plots can achieve the same result on a much smaller scale.
Think how gratifying it feels to “be home” after a long absence. Our personal sense of place is very strong. Yet we rarely consider if there’s more we could do in the garden to contribute to, rather than detract from that feeling.
Are there ways to achieving a more fulfilling sense of place? If so, how does one achieve it?
I’m no expert, and the end result of such an undertaking is very subjective. But I’ll give you my perspective on what I strive for when I crave a sense of place. It’s as much a work in progress as anything.
Let’s begin with what I believe a sense of place is not.
Sense of place in the garden is not:
- A menagerie. It’s not a hit-or-miss collection pulled together on impulse, without consideration of placement or juxtaposition. Even a garden that appears natural is usually carefully planned.
- Suburban sterile. It’s not all clipped yew and azalea, thick mulch and perfect grass. It’s not where owners never set foot. Maintained beds alone don’t define “sense of place”. Without meaningful human interaction, there is only empty landscape.
- Over-decorated. It’s not full of tchotckes, baubles, whirlygigs and gnomes. A few items are fine, but the more there are, the more they overwhelm the senses and prevent meaningful connection.
- A poor fit. It’s not harsh or illogical dimensions that feel wrong for the surroundings. It’s not out of scale, overgrown or meager.
- Not just pots. Creating a sense of place solely from potted plants takes considerable skill and investment. Pots are by nature temporary. A sense of place should feel timeless and have a physical connection to the land.
Gardens that exhibit a sense of place do have:
Effortless layout. The garden feels at one with the landscape, neither tightly confined nor lost. A natural “flow” beckons the eye into and through the plantings, either by paths or directional swaths of lawn.
Structural anchors. Large features like trees, a pergola or an elevation shift define the garden’s personality and provide “backbone”. These anchors add scale; they knit the plants to their surroundings and each other. Without them, a garden can feel adrift.
A focal point. It could be a burbling water jar, sundial or specimen tree; an arch framing a view. Formal gardens frequently use these and other techniques like statuary and gazebos to focus the eye. In small spaces, a birdbath, piece of sculpture or obelisk might play this role. Focal points work best with just one or two within sight at a time.
Interesting plantings. Strategically placed cultivars with staggered bloom periods ensure something of interest is happening in every season. Seedpods and colorful foliage fill in the gaps. Bulbs jumpstart things in spring; evergreens step up in winter. Just one or two unusual specimens can take a garden from ho-hum to memorable.
Arresting forms. Shape and texture are as critical as color. So is the use of water, wind, sight lines and light. How does the view of the horizon impact the garden’s aesthetics? A garden without consideration of form and shape feels flat and one-dimensional.
Personalization. Are you drawn to bold tropicals? Lots of herbs? Clipped box in orderly rows? An owner’s tastes will be reflected and apparent in a thoughtfully planned garden. Grow what you love, and you’ll be more motivated to take care of it. Make it your own.
Absence of distractions. Utility boxes, hoses, cracked foundations and unpretty views are screened out to the extent possible. Ambient noise is considered. Privacy and concealment methods are integrated into the overall design. Paint distracting elements that cannot be moved. Functionality need not be ugly! Uninterrupted beauty is calming, unifying and transformative, so help it along however you can.
An invitation to stay. A sense of place anticipates our yearning to linger with a rustic bench, a flat boulder, a lawn chair, a maintained view out past the garden’s boundaries. Embracing solitude is all the easier with a convenient spot to rest or picnic.
Moods and mindfulness connect us. The great thing about sense of place is, it’s more about how it makes us feel than about specific plants or styles. It’s about being in the moment, inner reflection, harmony with nature. A garden that offers us multiple opportunities to connect spiritually, physically and emotionally is key.
Here are some ideas on fostering more of a sense of place.
Visit often. Set aside twenty minutes several times a week to enjoy your garden. Don’t weed! Leave the phone in the house. Birdwatch, sip your coffee or wine, notice what’s opened overnight, chat with a loved one. You’ll find yourself looking forward to these interludes more and more. Time spent there with happy thoughts will reinforce a sense of place.
Try different times of day. Mix it up. Observe early and late, when the light’s best atmospheric qualities are most evident. Hazy conditions strengthen our perception of being immersed in nature, so take advantage of it. Otherwise you miss out on misty mornings, glorious sunsets, luminous dusks. Revel in the perfume of night-flowering and scent-releasing plants and sleepy birdsong. If you have them, watch for fireflies. Heck, sit on the deck in your PJs at 2 am and stargaze for meteor showers! I’ve done this occasionally on warm August nights and it’s magical.
Include white, variegated and silver plants. Because pale colors are more reflective they tend to be visible in low light, adding an extra dimension at the most atmospheric times of day. Plants that sparkle with rain and dewdrops, such as ornamental grasses, lady’s mantle and roses are also desirable. (See Silver in the Garden for more on this topic.)
Plant something fragrant. Make sure the garden smells good! Fragrance is highly personal and intensity varies. If possible, sniff a particular cultivar before you acquire it. Many hybrids labeled “fragrant” aren’t really, unless you plant acres of it. Once you succeed in finding a scent you love, you won’t want to be without it. Remember to reach down and rub aromatic leaves, taste herbs, inhale the wafting breezes. Even freshly cut grass can smell awfully good some days.
Document beauty. Photograph the garden from every angle and viewpoint. If you don’t have a professional camera, your phone or tablet or even a disposable camera will suffice. Just avoid midday sun which is too contrasty. Overcast days and late afternoon are great times to take photos. Besides creating a lasting visual record, you’re bound to take some lovely images. Favorite garden shots make excellent digital wallpaper for phones and tablets, especially in winter.
Add a water feature. There’s nothing like the sound of trickling water to soothe the soul. Don’t want the hassle of pipes and pumps? Keep it simple with a $25 solar-powered floating fountain for your birdbath. (Find them on Amazon.) They work ridiculously well, and the birds quickly acclimate.
A fountain discourages mosquito larvae and keeps the water fresher, too. Just keep an eye on it, clean the filter and replenish the water as needed every few days; remove the fountain temporarily if you go away.
Maybe a figurine-style fountain or simple circulating pump with a bamboo spout is more your style. There are lots of choices that don’t involve digging a pond or a major investment.
Make art. If you’re not an artist yourself, I bet you know someone who is. Invite them over to paint your garden, or sketch. For more on this idea, see Art from the Garden. If a nice piece of art results from the day’s efforts, consider it a bonus! Or enlarge your favorite garden photos and make a wall display. They will quickly become cherished memories.
Vow to stay connected. There is no better way to feel more in tune with Mother Earth and all she has to offer than by spending time in a garden. With all of our senses fully engaged, we can indeed create a “sense of place” right in our own back yard.
