We can take advantage of the greater environment in our landscapes, but how we play with space can greatly enhance a garden or patio on a human scale. It all depends on how we see a scene and notice dominant two- or three-dimensional forms and the surrounding space that frames them.
This phenomenon is known as "figure-ground ambiguity" — you alternately observe the positive figure and then the negative ground as its silhouette. Together, the figure and ground assume a pattern of their own.
There are literal ways to express this, such as with a symmetrical, black and white tile pattern. And there are also figurative ways to convey this idea, with an eye-pleasing balance of solid and amorphous elements in the landscape,
Here are several great ideas for emphasizing the landscape's positive and negative visual balance.
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arcs in plants frame view, tree
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create a portrait in the backyard
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for pathway
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rain garden
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. Indian Blanket
(Gaillardia pulchella
this is it! low ground cover, year round flowers, very tolerant and tough
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Southern Swamp Lily
(Crinum americanum)
bulbs, long flowering season
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Virginia Iris
(Iris virginica)
plant in wetlands
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Blood Sage
(Salvia coccinea)
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Partridge Pea
(Chamaecrista fasciculata)
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Prairie Sunflower
(Helianthus petiolaris)
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. Aromatic Aster
(Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
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purple coneflower
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boneset
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meadow sage (Salvia x sylvestris ‘May Night’) and fernleaf yarrow (Achillea x ‘Moonshine’)
We can take advantage of the greater environment in our landscapes, but how we play with space can greatly enhance a garden or patio on a human scale. It all depends on how we see a scene and notice dominant two- or three-dimensional forms and the surrounding space that frames them. This phenomenon is known as "figure-ground ambiguity" — you alternately observe the positive figure and then the negative ground as its silhouette. Together, the figure and ground assume a pattern of their own. There are literal ways to express this, such as with a symmetrical, black and white tile pattern. And there are also figurative ways to convey this idea, with an eye-pleasing balance of solid and amorphous elements in the landscape, Here are several great ideas for emphasizing the landscape's positive and negative visual balance.
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