LEGIBILITY
Define clear geometry amid disorder
Legible spaces are coherent, understandable, simple and organized. It involves organizing features in a way that allows someone to easily comprehend the spatial layout. When we follow design principles, define garden room edges, are thoughtful about materials and colors, and connect our designs to their surroundings (lines of force)…we are well on our way to a legible landscape, but we can use this concept by taking it a step further.
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How can we take this idea of legibility (order + clarity) and pair it with an ecological planting (wild) so clients and the general public embrace this important ecosystem?
The garden above is located in Rhode Island, while the image below is the garden of Kelly Norris and David McKinney in Iowa.
LEGIBILITY RESOURCES in our DESIGN LIBRARY
The concept of LEGIBILITY takes into consideration an overall understanding of solid design...that includes applying good design principles and elements overall. We've covered many of these approaches in past Garden Design Guides, plus I've included a ground-breaking article that addresses another important angle on this topic. Take a peek at these below.
MESSY ECOSYSTEMS, ORDERLY FRAMES
This amazing article was written to describe the idea of LEGIBILITY and our acceptance of "messy ecosystems" through the lens of "orderly frames" (designed) and "cues to care" (someone is taking care of it).
DESIGN PRINCIPLES OVERVIEW
To create legibility in the garden it's important that spaces are easy to read, simple and organized. A great foundation for this is applying the Principles of Design. This is a great time to take a step into our Design Library to check out this Garden Design Guide.
FORM + TEXTURE + COLOR
By applying the elements of planting design to our ecological plantings, we're providing a strong foundation of LEGIBILITY. This Garden Design Guide provides an overview of these and how each are an important facet to the plant composition as a whole.
LINES OF FORCE
This Garden Design Guide explains a special technique to build strong geometry and lines in your landscape, while also unifying it with existing architecture. Lines of Force is a fabulous way to establish "orderly frames".
PLANT LAYERS
This Garden Design Guide starts breaking down the layers of an ecological planting. It doesn't discuss LEGIBILITY per se, but instead discussed the "ecosystem" part, that you can apply orderly frames to later.
MATRIX PLANTINGS
This Garden Design Guide focuses on the lower layer of an ecological planting. Though the main purpose of the matrix layer is functional, it can unify a planting aesthetically...which is a fabulous way to add LEGIBILITY.
GOODNESS FOR YOU THIS MONTH
Below you will find several more items to help you learn about LEGIBILITY. From written words to video to applied activities to group discussions. Explore our topic from different angles and gain a new perspective. Click on the images below to download PDFs of your Garden Design Guide and Activity. Further down you will find a video and links to our community, a bonus live session, plus a Q+A too!
VIDEO: LEGIBILITY BORDERS
OUR COMMUNITY + CHALLENGES
Don't forget to hang out with us this month.
Check in to share your activity. Try one, both or simply learn from the submissions of your peers. No need to stress. Just enjoy!
Activity .01 // DO YOU SEE LEGIBILITY?
Click below to share a garden photo with notes on how you see LEGIBILITY being applied.
Activity .02 // LEGIBLE BORDERS
Share your drawings in our community and let us know how you applied LEGIBILITY to your ecological planting in elevation.
Share a win!
What have you accomplished in the last month that makes you super happy? Let us celebrate with you!
LIVE SESSIONS
We have two this month: our normal Q+A, plus we'll have one more discussion on the book: A Garden's Purpose. These will both be recorded in case you can't make it (then posted right back here). Visit the Q+A SCHEDULE for times and links or click below.
I can't wait to see you!
The left image above is Chanticleer Garden in Pennsylvania, while the one of the right is located on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
BOOK CLUB: A Garden's Purpose by Felix De Rosen
This month we'll discuss:
HABITAT + EPILOGUE (pages 109-187)
Find more details about our schedule and past recordings HERE.
This book is located in our bookshop at Bookshop.org. You're welcome to read our current book or simply listen in to learn about the concepts discussed.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Noon PST | 2 PM CST | 3 PM EST
London: 8 PM GMT
Sydney: March 7 at 7 AM AEDT
Monthly Q+A
Thursday, March 21
North America: 8 AM PST | 9 AM MST | 10 AM CST | 11 AM EST
London: 4 PM GMT
Sydney: March 22 at 3 AM AEDT
I'd love your feedback once you've devoured all this goodness.
Drop me a note at the email below and let me know what you loved and what could be improved. Thank you!
Please contact me at [email protected]
