A Gardener's Challenge...Bring the Canvas to Life

One of my favorite gardening books in recent years is Gordon Hayward’s ART AND THE GARDENER. It talks about how fine art principles can be used in successful garden design. Nowhere have I seen that theory more dramatically illustrated than on our recent visit to France. Mind you, we weren’t on a “garden tour” as such. It is just that in today’s France, gardens are everywhere. Communities vie hotly with one another to win 5-star rankings on the "village of flowers" signs posted at the town limits. Especially moving was the way the village of Anvers went out of its way to post historic signs that directly tied the landscape to Van Gogh’s paintings. The garden as art...a few samples are enough to suggest Gordon Hayward knows whereof he speak.

In a word, when we plan our gardens, Hayward invites us to work backwards. If we can’t decide how and where to place our perennials, instead start looking for possible structure in a favorite work of art. Plants can achieve those same color-combinations. Outlining the masses of color on the painting gives us a clue where to place the various plants. To define the color patches in the bed before planting, no strings and stakes needed. Just lay out a garden hose to mark the desired shape and start digging. So as winter comes, if you are contemplating a garden makeover next season, the place to search for inspiration just might be at one of our local art galleries or fine art books at the public library. Worth checking it out!