Thanks for posting these photos. As it happens, allowing for seasonal change is one of the challenges I'm working on right now, and believe it or not, these pictures are a good demo of how this works.

Maro

Thank you for sharing your pics. I look at gardens as moments in time. Seasonal changes as maro said is the big challenge. When looking at photos of gardens in magazines, I always say, "I wish my garden looked like that", and then my thoughts go to "I wonder what that garden will look like in 2 weeks or so".

As much as I know about gardens and design, attempting to have a garden that looks good every season is impossible for me. Although, I so enjoy trying. My husband often says "Can't you plant something once and leave it there?" My need for organization and balance sometimes interfers with natures beauty on its own.
Ally

There's a lot going on in this garden from one season to the next. So far we have Spring and Summer, looking forward to Fall and Winter.

Even those of us who live in supposedly "seasonless" climates must plan for plant growth and death.

P.S. I like the rocks mixed in with the trunk rounds.

Nice arbor, and I too like the way you mixed the rocks into the edging.

When the tulips were in bloom I just marveled at their blazing color statement--the arbor was a secondary player--now mystery bekons. With the wooded area beyond I wonder what the arbor is an entrance to and why the deer haven't eaten the hosta! Thanks for sharing.

Very pretty indeed. Is this Summer and Spring photo both from this year? If so, that's quite a lot of growth on the end shrub. What is that shrub? Our butterfly bushes show a lot of aggressive growth each season after we cut them back in early March.
Joann

Yes both taken this year. The shrub is Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida). We don't have a deer problem Miss R perhaps they prefer the sweet corn or soy beans on the other side of the road. The yellow shrubs (Phiadelphus) and the trees are on my neighbours property, the idea was to suggest that this island bed wrapped around us but left an opening for the imagination (and the lawn tractor) to pass through.

Thank you Miss R. for the arbor comment. I see now how the arbor takes backseat to the tulips in spring, and is dominant later on. May have something to do with the time of day also, with the dapples over the tulips?

Are the hosta and the other forward plants in the ground in the tulip picture, or planted after the tulips bloomed? That may be obvious, but not to me. :)

The tulips are Tulipa greigii "Red Riding Hood" that were planted last fall in the gaps between Nepeta, Hosta, Ornamental grass, Echinops ritro and a few day lilies all of which were cut down to transplant. One of the grasses I don't know the name of grows to 6 - 7 feet so that will be in the fall picture. There are scarlet runners growing up the structure.

I think this illustrates nicely the use of contrast (movement/rigidity) in the landscape. There is a school of thought that suggests juxtaposing movement alongside rigidity - an ornamental grass alongside a hardscape object for example. The arbor example presented here strikes me as being conceptually similar, except the timeframe for movement is seasonal rather than, let's say, the instantaneous motion of an ornamental grass in the wind. It would seem that they both still operate on the principal of movement alongside rigidity.

I am also reminded of a musical composition technique whereby a melody remains fixed (rigid) against an ever-changing underlying harmony (movement). The melody can be as simple as a single note. To miss_rumphius_rules point: what makes this musical composition technique effective is that the *functionality* of the single melody note changes as the note's relationship to the underlying harmony changes. In combination, what results is an interesting "melody", even if only the same note is repeated over and over - not unlike inkognito's arbor which changes from focal point to implied entranceway though remaining physically unchanged. Rigidity contrasted against movement makes what is rigid something more.

Below is a pic of my backyard arbor. In the summertime, the arbor camoflouges into the landscape and serves as a gateway for the kid's secret pathway through the woods. In the wintertime (no pics available), the arbor is practically naked amongst the many nearby decidous woodland trees/bushes and emerges as a statuesque focal point. Though the arbor remains physically rigid (I allow nary a single "climber" to change it's physical form), it's functionality changes with the movement of the seasons.

{{gwi:39601}}

gmb, I like this arbor, but I have some plant questions. They seem to be similar colors; did you choose grey-greens or is that caused by the exposure? (I'm partial to greys.)

What is that curved branch to the left of the arbor?

Ink - thanks for the information.

Maro

Maro: I did not make any plant choices, they have all been provided by Mother Nature. I do not know the name of the tree with the curved branch but I will try and find out. I am also interested in knowing.

gmb I enjoyed reading your connection with music. I am reminded of notes drawn between rigid lines that somehow, magically, become music in the right hands.

Hmmm. What has happened here? Has all of Canada melted? Is that a picture of Inky's own garden posted on this forum? Who took the pictures?

Things change whether you design for them or not. I don't have a picture, only a link to share Gate Ways

amili

Such a backward name, old friend. "Things change whether you design for them or not" is precisely the point of this thread but isn't it better to design knowing and appreciating this than ignoring it?

I am about to get a crash course in seasonal change as my zone has been sliced in half to a 5b. One of the first things I planted was Mugo Pine for winter interest in a deciduous forest.

I must wait patiently for the resident Bulb Queens spring extravaganza. I do believe she has even ordered bulbs for me with the most recent order.

amili