The Design Principle of Unity in Gardening and Landscaping

A principle of all art is unity. This means that each piece of art has one meaning. Creating landscaping or a flower garden should also incorporate this principle of unity. Your landscaping or flower garden is truly a work of art as much as any painting or sculpture.

Each work of art, large or small, should have one and only one meaning. Every part of the work of art, or in our case flower garden or landscaping, should contribute to this central or unifying meaning. Stated in physical terms, all parts of the landscaping should make one body of work with each part being subordinate to the whole. Every part which does not support in this effort must be removed, no matter how beautiful or interesting it may be in itself or so the principle of unity declares.

Unity taken to the extreme is monotony. When only one color, only one tone, or only one figure is used, the result may be monotonous. A garden planted with nothing but hollyhocks or a park with only red cedars would certainly be monotonous however beautiful the hollyhocks or cedars. Even so some believe it is better to have monotony than to lose unity. Indeed, in particular cases, monotony may be considered the height of artistic achievement.

The elimination of diverse colors, and forms, would tend towards unity. At least it would tend towards simplicity, which can be desirable in itself. Nearly all landscaping or gardening, in the hands of amateurs, shows too many forms, too many colors, and too many different kinds of plants. There are so many different kinds of plants and colors, you want to try them all. Fact is, the instances in which unity goes too far towards monotony are so rare, that these instances can be doubly interesting as curiosities.

Unity is frequently found through the development of functionality. If every part of the landscaping or flower garden has a definite and obvious practical pupose, then that dominating purpose can unify all the parts and pieces. Thus you can achieve unity.

In actual practice, the most powerful way to create unity lies in having a clear-cut motive and sticking to it. Essentially we mean, find a theme or subject for your landscaping or flower garden. Stick to it however tempting it is to not do so. In this way you can incorporate the principle of unity.

© 2005, Sandra Dinkins-Wilson. To find more articles with Gardening Tips visit our informative website, http://flowergardenlovers.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Professional Lawn Watering Techniques - Wireless Sensors for Lawns in Drought Areas

The technnology secrets will help home owners maintain lawns in... Read More

Tips For Successful Backyard Grape Growing

Growing grapes in the backyard or garden can be a... Read More

Patio Accessories ? Complete The Great Outdoors

Patio accessories can range from small to large and of... Read More

How to Grow Avocado

Fruit gardening and vegetable gardening is a very exciting venture.... Read More

Indoor Gardening Tips for Jerry Seinfeld

"I have no plants in my house. They won't live... Read More

Choosing the Perfect Landscape Painting

Landscape paintings are a beautiful way to spruce up the... Read More

Fuchsia procumbens

Fuchsia (named after Leonhard Fuchs, a 16th century German botanist)... Read More

Cannibals on the Porch

No, ghosts of the Donner Party have not started haunting... Read More

Gardening--Fun and Frugal!

Whether you are an avid vegetable gardener, a beginning herb... Read More

Learn All About Feng Shui Money Trees

A feng shui money tree is an indoor plant used... Read More

5 Pieces of Equipment Gardeners Cant Live Without

Gardening is fun and rewarding and may be considered a... Read More

The Flower Garden in August

Our flower garden in August can be brimming with activities... Read More

Ceiling Patio Heaters

It is unavoidable, Fall is coming and we like to... Read More

Planting Roses In Your Garden

Roses are an old standby for any garden and one... Read More

Bedding Plants and Plugs (small plants)

It is not difficult to grow bedding plants from seeds,... Read More

The Perfect Accent -- Miniature Roses

Indoors or out, you'll find miniature roses very easy to... Read More

Feeding the Hummingbirds

Early in May here in west central Wisconsin, I can... Read More

Environmentally Safe Ways to Remove Weeds

There is a lot of concern about herbicides and what... Read More

Tips On Caring For Your Cut Flowers

Imagine it's a special occasion and you've just received a... Read More

A Kids Tree

During my youth kids were required to pass through a... Read More

Tomatoes: History, Origin, Facts... or Fiction?

A tomato importer, John Nix, decided to challenge the law... Read More

Roses and Juniper Rock Gardens

Wide circle driveways don't happen much anymore, but when they... Read More

Developing the Perfect Landscaping Idea

Using landscaping ideas can be an effective way to attract... Read More

Beauty After life - Plants For Drying - Grasses

Dried plants and dried flowers are midway for people who... Read More

Fish Health in Hot Summer Heat

Summer is over, but for many of us - the... Read More

Garden Sheds: Wood Finishing and Weatherproofing Tips

To keep wood garden sheds, arbors, or trellises looking their... Read More

Wild Flower Garden - Recreate the Splendor of Nature in Your Own Backyard

A few years ago I made the decision to create... Read More

No Dig Gardens - How to Build One

The no dig garden is exactly what it describes...a fertile... Read More

Turn Your Patio Into A Voluminous Vegetable Garden

My first apartment was a second-story condo in an urban... Read More

Why You Should Always Have Garden Furniture

You've put a lot of work into your garden, from... Read More

The String Algae Blues

Now that Spring is upon us and things are coming... Read More

Would You Like More Information About Climbing Roses?

What is more beautiful than seeing a home or building... Read More

Mowing the Lawn

This is more of a follow up on my original... Read More