Landscape Design 101

January and February we will be learning about basics of Landscape Design.  DUE AT THE FEBRUARY MEETING - draw a plan!  Pick any site you want - your own front or back yard, or example.  Do your scaled basemap or plot plan, with all of the hardscapes and unchanging trees and such.  Then just start dreaming and plug in your plants!  Remember to make a plant list with the mature sizes.

​At the January meeting we are discussing the Principles and Elements of Design.  These apply to all types of art and design:  

Principles 

•Proportion – size of one object relative to another

•Scale – size in proportion to objects in landscape and in relationship to the viewer

•Balance – equilibrium and stability

•Rhythm and Harmony – or Unity.  Blending or repetition of elements within the composition

•Contrast – introduction of unlike elements to emphasize the similarity of other elements
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•Dominance or Focal Point – focusing the viewers attention on an object or element in the design​

Give it Thought, Make a Plan

Pick a project!  How would you change up your back yard, front yard, dream yard?
Take your graph paper and draw a scaled plot plan (i.e. 1 sq = 4') for your project area.
​You received a handout giving you step-by-step instructions of what to do.  If you missed class, you can download them - email Dixie for the site.

Elements of Design

•Line
–Defines edges and divides areas

•Form
–Shape or silhouette of an object

•Texture 
–Surface quality of an object
- Rough vs smooth

•Color
–Created by light
- Changes mood, perspective, dark vs light

​•Pattern – arrangement of forms
–Often the repetition of a motif across the surface

•Mass – created by a three-dimensional object in space

•Void – the space that surrounds a mass or space surrounded by a mass

•Space – the open area in and around a design

•Light – creates the bright/shining parts of a design
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–Shadows create the darker, less seen parts

Share Your Ideas!

Email your plan to our club email:  scjrmg@gmail.com  and we will post your plan here on our website.