Do you have a copy of last week's article in front of you? If not, it might be of help for you to get one; so call Juanita at the office, she has a few extra copies.Now, let's talk about some design ideas.
We talked about the importance of theme in designing your project. What do you want your visitors to feel, or notice, when they go into your lawn and garden area? What do you want them to remember about it? Is it the plants, the rock garden, the statuary... or is it that most hallowed and pristine location that only you and maybe a few, select others even know about-that you talk about in hushed and revered tones-the place of contemplation, of reflection and introspection-the place where you sling your hammock. Regardless of where it is, what it is or even why it is, the fact remains that you gotta get there, and so you need the pathway. Again, do you want the pathway to be seen or to simply accent the area? An important question, answered by the versatility of using brick. (Boy, that sounds like a sales pitch, doesn't it?) Brick will do various 'themes' for your pathway. And how does it do it? Simply by the 'lay of the line'. Look at the drawing in the previous article of the herringbone pattern compared to the lengthwise running bond. (These drawings are somewhat to an equal scale in width. I know because I measured them) Now, STOP FOR A MOMENT! And read this very important note: If you've been reading these articles for a while, you know that sometimes we deal in the abstract. If you're just joining us, this is a fair warning to you--sometimes we deal in the abstract. Okay, read on!
Let's get something straight between you and me about what I mean by the 'lay of the line'. When you look at things, you normally see things naturally in a straight line, or on a horizontal plane. Let's say that I have a wall, and I built it out of brick on the right side, and river rock on the left. Which side will be bulkier, or heavier and larger-looking? Correct, the left side that has the river rock. What is that? Now get this extremely important design fact: lines that are not straight, or horizontally oriented, are weightier, or bulkier, or increased in size. By using the 'lay of the line', or changing the line into different orientations--changing the line from perfectly horizontal to a 45-degree angle like the herringbone design. This changes your perspective by adding weight or bulk, or busy-ness to it. Look again at the herringbone compared to the lengthwise running bond. Can you see how much heavier or busier the herringbone is? (If you can't, don't tell me!) Also can you see how the running bond actually can make the pathway look slimmer and longer? (You can't? My gosh, get a grip!) So what this means is that to make your pathway look longer, or give the illusion of length, use the running bond. If you want to make it appear shorter than it really is, or make it look bigger, then you would use the herringbone. You want to know what else a strong horizontal line pattern does? It equates formality. Take your lengthwise running bond and make it a regular, or horizontal running bond, like you see when a wall is built. Now look at the herringbone pattern. Which one do you NOT see? Right, the running bond. Formality equals quiet. NOW, this is not to say that the herringbone looks out of place in a formal situation. The herringbone pattern says, "Look at me!" whereas the running bond says, "Look at the tree... the plants... the overall project... not at me!" What about the stacked bond? Quick and easy to lay, especially for the novice or first-time landscaper. It's very quiet, unassuming and functional, and eventually will meld into the design so well that you won't really notice it. The basket weave is somewhat the same, except that it has a tendency to look bulkier, or boxier. It is a good way to fake someone out, making them believe that the pathway is bigger than it really is, and therefore, the garden too. Well, gotta' go now, more on this next week. So until then, see ya'!
Originally published in the Daily Courier June 22, 2000