– by Katie Kroeker, Pacific Ridge Landscapes –
Autumn is my favourite time in the garden. The vigorous effort and energy of summer growth is over and gardens no longer feel like they are bursting at the seams. Longer shadows and shorter days create moments of mystery as colours change from day to day. Transitioning light brings a more subdued palette as the pace of the garden slows and invites the visitor to savour the experience of watching autumn unfold.
As the leaves change and eventually fall we are left noticing the forms and shapes that remain. In my work as a landscape designer, I am always thinking about how trees will look when bereft of their leaves. What colour is the bark; is it textured; does the tree have a pleasing shape? I love nothing better than a beautifully gnarled old tree that demands nothing but invites your gaze to linger over its intricacies. It is important to notice what your eye is drawn to in the garden. Visual harmony is achieved through layers of texture and repetition. This requires the strong clean lines of trees, and weightier, woody shrubs and evergreens that can stand up to the shifting emphasis that accompanies autumn.
Fall is nature’s encore. After the spectacle of summer flowers that is all about colours and pairings, it’s as if Mother Nature says “Oh, I’m not done yet … ” and then proceeds to take it off layer by layer. This is no tawdry strip show, but a languid disrobing that starts with a peek of shoulder. After all, Mother Nature is a lady.
Like any other occasion when one’s underpinnings are unveiled, it’s all in the details. When the razzle dazzle of summer’s blooms have faded, we notice that new colours take centre stage. The golds and saffrons of changing leaves are complemented by ornamental grasses, mums and sunflowers to name a few. Good landscape design ensures that the flowers in bloom echo the colours of the changing leaves and are not out of place. Look for ripe colours; avoid pastels that will get lost in the newly gilded light. Orange berries and red-barked shrubs are the perfect foil for the many shades of brown now visible in our gardens. Chartreuse can be added through ground cover and in the branches of some dogwood and nine bark varieties to bring a sense of freshness to fall’s changing palette.
Finally, in this season of secrets revealed, it is paramount that one’s garden pots are beautiful enough to remain empty. Cull your collection and select your loveliest containers to become new focal points. Nestle them under a tree or in the middle of the bed and embrace the simplicity of the season.
For more information visit www.pacificridgelandscapes.com.
