May 102013
 

Understanding Garden Design: The Complete Handbook for Aspiring Designers

Understanding Garden Design: The Complete Handbook for Aspiring Designers

Designing a garden is a complex task. Where do you start? What kind of skills do you need? What are the logical steps in creating a design? How do you communicate your ideas to a client, and how do you accommodate a client’s requests while maintaining the integrity of the project? The answers to these questions, and many more, can all be found in Understanding Garden Design.

Most books on garden design focus on only one or a few aspects of garden design—choosing plants or creating a h

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  3 Responses to “Understanding Garden Design: The Complete Handbook for Aspiring Designers”

  1. 9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    A Realistic Guide and an Invaluable Handbook, January 13, 2011
    By 
    allanbecker-gardenguru (Montreal, Canada) –

    This review is from: Understanding Garden Design: The Complete Handbook for Aspiring Designers (Hardcover)

    In spite of the rise in the number of independent-minded gardeners, who care little what others think, most people expect that their garden will not only make themselves happy but will also please their visitors. To accomplish these goals, fundamental principles of design must be respected. These principles are not based upon social or aesthetic convention, as so many free-thinking gardeners believe. When planning any garden, the author suggests that people ought to understand why a landscape needs to be designed, in the first place.

    In this publication, the reader will learn that design principles reflect the need to engage the brain in a pleasurable sensory experience that allows one to perceive a garden as beautiful and fulfilling. Furthermore, when a landscape layout meets people’s physical and psychological needs, it helps them to function better. Sometimes it encourages an interaction with nature.

    According to the author, the intelligent use of space is another benefit of proper garden design. Regardless of its size, a garden may serve very special purposes for a home owner and unless such needs are satisfied, the garden cannot be deemed to be a success. To achieve that level of satisfaction, Ms. Nagel suggests that advance planning is required before the first line of the garden can be drawn. Listed in that preparation are considerations for a play area for children, pets, outdoor work, the drying of laundry, storage, growing food, traffic patterns, entertainment, and a place to be alone.

    Dealing with the topic of beauty in the garden, the author introduces the reader to basic design principles and suggests that, when they are incorporated into the planning, they are responsible for creating an aesthetically pleasing landscape. These basics are color, line, shape, form, space, proportion, mass, focal point, repetition and rhythm, movement, sequence, texture, variety, contrast, balance and unity. All of these concepts are elaborated upon in sufficient detail to enhance the reader’s knowledge of them.

    Each of the twelve chapters of this book deals chronologically with the process of creating a successful garden. The first chapter is the eye opener. It establishes the framework for accomplishing one’s goal both philosophically and realistically. First, it discusses the rationale for a well designed garden and touches on issues such as hobby, health, and personal expression. Then, it alerts the aspiring designer to preliminary projects that must be undertaken before the first shovel is dug. These include, the gathering of data about the physical property, making preliminary decisions, measuring and photographing the site, drawing base plans, developing a concept on the plan, reviewing and deciding upon plants and hardscape materials, assembling costs and budget review, preparing the final master plan, and, finally, an evaluation of contractors and their qualifications. The author suggests that this advance planning, which can take up to six weeks, will allow for better decision making throughout the construction period.

    Subsequent chapters elaborate upon the master plan and extend the conversation to include topics such as finishings, irrigation, lighting, and working with contractors. In the final chapter, titled “After Construction”, the author writes about completing the garden installation with garden art, furniture, containers, and outdoor entertaining. Readers will find enjoyment in the last section as it discusses such matters as creating ambience, crowd control techniques, and open garden etiquette. Here the author suggests that gardens need not be perfect or complete before visitors are invited in, as a garden in process is a learning opportunity.

    Ms. Nagel reminds us that most landscaping books begin in “the middle” .i.e. with a discussion of basic design principles. The author affirms that something has to happen in the minds of gardeners before they tackle such concepts. Certain questions need to be answered first:-

    Why design? What are the measurements that define the value of design? How does a landscape design benefit the homeowner?

    By elaborating on these issues, prior to introducing design concepts, the author has added realism to the study of garden design. Her thoughtful guide is practical, and easy to follow. The extensive collection of photographs, selected to illustrate the text, are spot-on appropriate, surprisingly beautiful, and quite inspiring.

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  2. 11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Exactly the book I needed to encourage and support my love for gardening, August 31, 2010
    By 
    Loula

    This review is from: Understanding Garden Design: The Complete Handbook for Aspiring Designers (Hardcover)

    I am always looking for gardening books that provide a helpful mix of basic, practical (real life) gardening tips and ideas that I can actually follow and do. This is that book. Very helpful and easy to read! From understanding scale to pet friendly plant choices and design, this book provides well written and easy-to-follow garden design steps and methods supported by an abundance pictures. This is exactly the book I needed to encourage and support my growing love for gardening.

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  3. 8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    An excellent resource for Aspiring Garden Lighting Designers too, October 10, 2010
    By 
    Thomas M. Williams (Troy, NY United States) –
    (REAL NAME)
      

    Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
    This review is from: Understanding Garden Design: The Complete Handbook for Aspiring Designers (Hardcover)

    “Why Design a Garden? Think about the projects you do in your life. Sew a dress, build a house, take a trip-these activities usually succeed because of the planning you do before the experience. Planning and design are intention and purpose. They give a project significance.”

    And so begins one of the most useful books I’ve yet found for the novice, or even advanced, Landscape Lighting Designer. The author, Vanessa Gardner Nagel, has drawn on her focused study and practice of Interior Design, a later deep exploration of Landscape Design, and a particularly illuminating “light bulb” moment to guide her writing. Mrs. Nagel “saw the light” when she realized that all the books on landscape design begin with a discussion of the Principles Of Design without addressing the much deeper question, “Why Design?”

    In my Amazon review of Jan Moyer’s 2nd edition of the Landscape Lighting Book I noted, “Once you understand the theory behind the short cuts and rules-of-thumb that other How-To books offer, you are free to create your own. With the freedom you gain when you understand and can apply those fundamental principals and concepts to your landscape lighting, you become like the cook who ignores the printed recipe and creates a masterpiece of culinary art.”

    I believe UNDERSTANDING GARDEN DESIGN offers a second route into our exploration of landscape lighting design; a deeper understanding of the processes and goals of our fellow professional colleagues who visualize and create the spaces we light. In authoring a book that focused on “Understanding” the why behind landscape design, Nagel has opened a window into the processes of our closest allies in our professional endeavors. When we are able to understand and appreciate what the Landscape Designer’s intentions were, we become fully informed and potentially more creative Designers of Light.

    THE BONUS CHAPTER for all landscape lighting designers, experienced and novice, is Chapter 9: Garden Lighting. Her chapter on Landscape Lighting is the most lucid introduction to the craft I’ve found yet. During my second review of my copy of her text, I realized I had previously penciled in numerous !!s and smiley faces. There is good stuff for all of us in this book.

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