How to create an atmosphere in the garden with light and shadow - It can be easy to forget the value of sunlight and shadow and how they work together in your garden. The interaction of the two creates a magical atmosphere and a quality that is subtle and difficult to identify, but can make the difference between good design and great design.
Wild Acres
Follow the sun
If you look at your pet on a sunny day, it will most likely follow the sun. As creatures of comfort, we're no different. Create a small diagram of your garden at different times of the day - morning, noon and night - so you may find that sunny, sheltered place to locate a bed for your morning coffee or evening to catch the last rays of sun entertaining.
Do not forget to provide some optional shade. A small tree located on or near the seating area will allow a cool retreat on days when the sun is too hot.
Find some great ideas for outdoor spaces
If you look at your pet on a sunny day, it will most likely follow the sun. As creatures of comfort, we're no different. Create a small diagram of your garden at different times of the day - morning, noon and night - so you may find that sunny, sheltered place to locate a bed for your morning coffee or evening to catch the last rays of sun entertaining.
Do not forget to provide some optional shade. A small tree located on or near the seating area will allow a cool retreat on days when the sun is too hot.
Find some great ideas for outdoor spaces
space Borrowed
STRESS your contours
changes in level, terraces or even mounds or soft contours will look more dramatic when light is low and scum along the soil surface. This is particularly effective as the sun goes to bed.
changes in level, terraces or even mounds or soft contours will look more dramatic when light is low and scum along the soil surface. This is particularly effective as the sun goes to bed.
Pacey-Buck Garden Design
Stir grassy accents
Positioning herbs so they capture the faint light of the evening will make them shine and add an extra dimension to their translucent seedheads, which shimmer and dance in the sunlight.
This is true of all grasses, especially those with large seedheads, such as Stipa gigantea shown in this image. The foliage of grasses can also be very effective because it turns golden in autumn.
Positioning herbs so they capture the faint light of the evening will make them shine and add an extra dimension to their translucent seedheads, which shimmer and dance in the sunlight.
This is true of all grasses, especially those with large seedheads, such as Stipa gigantea shown in this image. The foliage of grasses can also be very effective because it turns golden in autumn.
Laara Copley-Smith Garden & Landscape Design
Add dimension to your light topiary
sunlight, particularly the low light in the morning or evening, can bring to life topiary. It allows forms to be truly appreciated, as the contrast between light and shade becomes more pronounced. Without light, this group of balls of the box seems static and flat, while here in the evening, they ram air and have a magical quality.
sunlight, particularly the low light in the morning or evening, can bring to life topiary. It allows forms to be truly appreciated, as the contrast between light and shade becomes more pronounced. Without light, this group of balls of the box seems static and flat, while here in the evening, they ram air and have a magical quality.
Laara Copley-Smith Garden & Landscape Design
Backlight for an effect
Many plants have distinctive and attractive foliage - maple, bamboo, ferns and palms to name a few. Low light can project the contour structure and shape of the leaves of a plant on a screen or white wall to magical effect, creating a changing pattern of interest and movement.
Many plants have distinctive and attractive foliage - maple, bamboo, ferns and palms to name a few. Low light can project the contour structure and shape of the leaves of a plant on a screen or white wall to magical effect, creating a changing pattern of interest and movement.
WA Design Architects
Create patterns
perforated screens, fences and awnings can generate an interesting interplay of light and shadow on the walls, paving and other surfaces. A little thought and experimentation may be necessary to catch the evening or morning sun for the best effect.
perforated screens, fences and awnings can generate an interesting interplay of light and shadow on the walls, paving and other surfaces. A little thought and experimentation may be necessary to catch the evening or morning sun for the best effect.
Patricia Tyrrell Living Landscapes
Feel the rhythm
the pace of formal planting, as an avenue of trees or row of topiary can be emphasized by the shadows cast on the ground by the trunks or foliage. Here, there is a combination of formal shadows of tree trunks and those spidery branches created by a weak spring sunshine.
the pace of formal planting, as an avenue of trees or row of topiary can be emphasized by the shadows cast on the ground by the trunks or foliage. Here, there is a combination of formal shadows of tree trunks and those spidery branches created by a weak spring sunshine.
Patricia Tyrrell Living Landscapes
Spotlight he
Even where there is plenty of shade, plants accent can be positioned to catch a little light and show almost as if they have a spotlight on other with respect to the shade around them. This technique could also be used to carving projector or other interesting objects in the garden.
Even where there is plenty of shade, plants accent can be positioned to catch a little light and show almost as if they have a spotlight on other with respect to the shade around them. This technique could also be used to carving projector or other interesting objects in the garden.
Garden Club London Ltd
Exploit tree bark
interesting bark really draws the eye to the sun as the light plays on surfaces. This works well with many varieties of birch trees with their beautiful white bark, but also consider other colors :. Eucalyptus and strawberry trees have a huge variation in color and a reflective quality that responds well to sunlight
See how to use special trees to wow your garden
interesting bark really draws the eye to the sun as the light plays on surfaces. This works well with many varieties of birch trees with their beautiful white bark, but also consider other colors :. Eucalyptus and strawberry trees have a huge variation in color and a reflective quality that responds well to sunlight
See how to use special trees to wow your garden
Skale Building design
Reflect on water
in this image you can see the water reflections on the ceiling. Water Wind movements create small waves, which in turn create patterns of light and shadow in the pool. When the sun shines thereon, it bounces reflections on surfaces above the water.
By placing the water near an entrance to the house or window, the light reflected on the water, causing a wonderful shimmer on the ceiling. This is a fact that I particularly like and is unrivaled in terms of bringing light and movement in the house.
Tell us ...
Have these ideas inspired you to look at your new garden? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
in this image you can see the water reflections on the ceiling. Water Wind movements create small waves, which in turn create patterns of light and shadow in the pool. When the sun shines thereon, it bounces reflections on surfaces above the water.
By placing the water near an entrance to the house or window, the light reflected on the water, causing a wonderful shimmer on the ceiling. This is a fact that I particularly like and is unrivaled in terms of bringing light and movement in the house.
Tell us ...
Have these ideas inspired you to look at your new garden? Share your thoughts in the comments below.