Garden designer Jan Johnsen says that a serene landscape consists of three primary features: simplicity, sanctuary and delight.
“Delight is anything that gladdens your heart: a hollowed out tree trunk, an interesting gate or an elegant stone lion,” she writes in the first chapter of her new book, “Heaven is a Garden: Designing Serene Spaces for Inspiration and Reflection.” “It is the most personal aspect of a heavenly outdoor space and can be found amidst a patio flush with planters or in a woodland garden dotted with foamflowers and ferns. You may thrill to a fire pit or bubbling fountain. Delight prompts you to savor your surroundings.”
To give a garden a sense of serenity, here are a few things Johnson, who lives in Croton-on-Hudson, likes to add to the landscapes she designs.
Ornamental trees — “I like smaller trees such as Japanese maples, flowering cherries or dogwoods in a garden. They add a special touch. I particularly like ‘Coralbark’ Japanese maple for its bright red stems in late winter and early spring.”
Big boulders — “If I find rocks or rock outcrops on a property I make sure to highlight them. Large boulders infuse a sense of stability into a scene. Large rocks seem to ‘ground’ us. I love to sit on them whenever I can and I think others like it as well.”
Color – “Color is nature’s catalyst and affects us profoundly. I always try to add a colorful accent in a garden. It can be a blue gate, a green wall or a yellow bench. The cool colors are the best for creating a calm atmosphere, but I have to admit I also love a tiny punch of red.”
Crabapple berries light up a garden in the fall – and provide food for birds. Photos by Jan Johnsen.
Grass steps — “These are grass treads with stone or brick risers. The line of long grass steps can create a lovely, calming shape in a garden.”
Jan Johnsen’s signature grass steps, at a property she designed in Bedford. “Long grassed steps make a property less steep,” she writes in her new book.
Stacked stones — “The sight of a simple tower of rounded rocks can be a nice cue that you are in a serene setting. Sometimes I will have people stack the rocks themselves as a fun activity!”
Asian statues — “Right now a popular request is for gardens that feature statues of Buddha or Asian deities. I think it is the meditative atmosphere of such outdoor settings that is so enticing.”
Sanctuary — “In my book I talk about ‘the lure of the sheltered corner.’ I always try to add a sitting spot that is protected on one side with a view out to the yard or beyond. People love this feeling of being partially enclosed.”
Ah, the lure of a sheltered corner in a garden. Here, lush purple hydrangeas soften a stone wall and provide a welcome backdrop for a wooden bench in the Manleys’ garden in Chappaqua.
Speak Your Mind