The location of your garden necessarily depends upon the shape and topography of the lot, the type of house, its posi tion in relation to property lines, and the location of garage, driveway, walks, and service area. It is desirable in the north eastern states to have the garden on the south or west of the house. A southern exposure offers a better growing place for plants and, since the living rooms are likely to be there, it is easy to work out an intimate relationship between garden and house. If the land is level, or nearly so, it need not influence the choice of site, but if there is a decided slope, the design of the garden will have to be adapted to it. If the lot is partly flat and partly sloping, the garden will naturally be placed on the level space, other conditions permitting.

The establishment of an axial line or backbone is the first step in evolving a pattern. You will note that we say evolve rather than select a pattern. This choice of words is deliberate. If you expect to have an unusual and interesting garden, let the pattern evolve from the site, evolve meaning to grow out of or to develop naturally from the existing conditions of the site. (Plate 2.)

The size and shape of the planting areas, their location and general character, is determined by the use to which the area is to be put, and the pattern adopted. No one can give specific rules for the determination of these things. They must evolve from the requirements of the site, through the imagination of the designer. This is indeed true. Design to be vital must arise from the inherent qualities of the situation. When a design is arrived at in this fashion, it has individual charm and is rarely stereotyped. People are often tempted to adopt plans and pat terns without change from books and magazine articles and to force them onto a site, whether they fit or not. This is the wrong approach.

Axes AND FOCAL Points

As it develops, the axial line may be emphasized by bal anced beds on either side, or it may be left practically un noticed, as in a naturalistic setting. Nevertheless the axis needs to be there to give the pattern unity, and to provide a link between garden and house, or other principal point of view. The axis line should start preferably at some door or window of the house and be terminated at the farthest end by an important feature. If a strong cross axis exists, the feature may be located where the two axes intersect in or near the center of the garden.