|
Emphasis can also be secured by a change of position. A
dogwood or crabapple may be brought forward and planted
as an isolated specimen which stands out from the long shrub
group. In the herbaceous border, a group of tall plants may
be brought forward from the middle ground and placed
among iris, columbine, and Shasta daisies in the foreground.
One of the ways of avoiding rigidity is occasionally to change
the position of taller plants. (Plate lib.)
Accent can be secured by contrasting foliage textures. A
coarse-leaved Hungarian lilac may be planted with such fine
leaved shrubs as spireas, or, conversely, a fine-foliaged cut
leaf birch may be planted to emphasize a mass of heavier
lindens or horsechestnuts. The light-reflecting foliage of hol
lies is a beautiful contrast to soft-foliaged pine or hemlock.
The coarse leaves of witch-hazel relieve the monotony of
groups of forsythia, mockorange, and viburnums; the fine-cut
foliage of weeping-willows will be even more effective, for it
provides change of line as well as differences of texture and
color. In the border a peony with its coarse foliage breaks up
long narrow drifts of iris, phlox, or the feathery texture of
flax, columbine, or Scotch pinks, which generally fill the fore
ground. The fine-cut foliage of a small group of thalictrum
will give a nice feeling of change and emphasis when grouped
with the sturdier phlox and hemerocallis. (Plate l1c.)
Accent with Color
Contrast of color is the most common method of securing
accent. It is less subtle than other means and not so lasting,
for bloom is transient and must be repeated where it is used
as accent. Blue anchusa and orange lilies create accent by
strong contrast in June, but are of no value later. Other
strong contrasts, perhaps veronicas with yellow and bronze
zinnias, or broad groups of salmon-pink phlox Augusta with
pale yellow hemerocallis or blue salvia will be needed for
July and August. These last will probably carry over into
autumn. Contrasting color in foliage is also a means to em
phasis and of particular value in background plantings. There
the strong color of a Japanese maple, Pissard plum, or the
gray-green of junipers and cedars will be effective among the
more usual green foliage. (Plate l1d.)
Accent must be used sparingly. Overdone it creates a nerv
ous exciting garden picture. If too often repeated, it will itself
produce monotony. This is true when accent is used in rhyth
mic balance down a long garden.
|
