Getting to the Heart of Darkness: A Garden Designers Round Table Post
Darkness
can mean as little as
smartness and sharpness
- like a dark suit or a little black dress!
It needs light
to define it. And vice versa.
This central London memorial installation
shows up dark against light.
Here light against dark against light makes a real statement of those ivory onion domes.
In a Robert Myers Show Garden at Chelsea Flower Show in 2009:
dark branches frame a white sculpture which itself floats on a dark water feature set in pale paving – we think that’s complex enough!
Simple contrasts can be worked at and enhanced. We should think carefully about the path of the sun and how it lights the garden.
White phlox are placed to face north. They both highlight the shadows of, and are back lit by the sun over the top of, the dark limestone wall.
In the early afternoon silvery verbascums are in broad sunshine while the mouth of the rockwork behind is in shadow. Both benefit by the contrast.
Glossy leaves will draw light even in a shadowed pool
Dark mulch shows off pale blooms
We can spotlight pale tree trunks at night
We can dye water to inky blackness
But we really begin to harness darkness when we create height in the garden,
Even ankle height steps can create drama
At chest height space is defined and the shadows are part of clarifying its essential nature.
Higher and we divide and enclose
Then we ourselves physically move from dark into light
or from light into dark
With all that this means for vision, atmosphere, temperature, and therefore comfort
At Rousham a succession of dark and light is a critical part of the garden journey
Silhouettes, dark against light and light against dark,
leading you forward
But, whereas Rousham is an idyll, to finally enter the ‘Heart of Darkness’ we need to encounter a certain sort of frisson
An atmosphere of looming unease is essential such as in this Gloucestershire churchyard
There is an awe – full inevitability as you travel along the tramline straight path towards that black, pupil-like doorway at darkly gothick Stancombe Park.
But to fully sense the potential for darkness in a garden we must be open to it:
You have to imagine a dark shadow falling on the sunlit path beyond this rock arch……….
Now please do check out what our other GDRT colleagues have to say about ‘the dark arts’:
Jocelyn Chilvers : The Art Garden : Denver, CO
Genevieve Schmidt : North Coast Gardening : Arcata, CA
Category: Design Bites
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That is incredible how you show the various phases of darkness. And how darkness appears even on the sunniest of settings!
Beautiful examples of contrast! I especially love the uplit pale tree trunk. Sometimes the simplest things are the most stunning.
Wonderful post! Especially love your examples of light and dark as a form of movement in the garden, creating depth and pulling one into the space. Beautiful spaces you’ve captured here, too. Thanks!
I like your photo tour of Darkness in the garden. Here in Austin’s blazing climate, creating cool, dark tunnels and shady areas is essential. Anything to get out from under the Death Star!
Guys, I love these artistic photos and the analysis of what makes them work so well. I think it’s official: I love stone archways and doorways, and I think that the shadows cast by all that rugged roughness is in large part what I love about them. Great post!
Perfect example of the old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Nice job capturing the often subtle role darkness plays in the garden. You’ve given me some things to think about.
Wonderful images, and the prose leads one right through your thought process. Excellent post!
I love your interpretation of Darkness in the garden – especially pointing out the differences of height, be it ankle, chest or taller. Brilliant post this month – thanks!!
Hi David, Let their be darkness! What I call natural lighting as opposed to all the man made stuff. So important in gardens! Sorry for slow reply. We have been closed for a few days! Thanks so much for your comment. Best R
Hi Jenny. You are so right! Simple IS stunning so often! Thanks for your comments. Best R
Hi Jocelyn, Thanks so much for your positive response! Its the subleties of the landscape which I notice you always get! Best R
Hi Pam, So sorry for my slow response to your comment. We have been shut for a few days hols, but are now back in the driving seat and have feet hard on the accelerator. Thanks for your comments. Yes guess it is just such a different world. Never heard of the Death Star before-I lead such a sheletered existence!!! Best R
Hi Gen, Yes I think you have hit on something which is so important in gardens: movement through. Think Jocelyn did a great post on this a little while ago.
Maybe we should all do a post on movment thru – or have we already. It is 4.35 here and I am only halkf awake! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Best R
Hi, Susan. Well we are in the visual world aren’t we? The world is more visual now and we are more visual than anyone! Thanks so much for your comments. If we have given any of our esteemed GDRT colleagues anything to think about we are proud indeed! Best as always. R
Hi Scott, Thanks for your positive comments. Thanks also for your maitre d’ing of the GDRT organisation. Respect! Best
R
Hi Rebecca, thanks so much for your response. Sorry mine to you is so delayed. Think it was a great subject title actually – those ones where we can all head off in different direction seem to bring out the best in us!
Thanks
R