Monday, September 26, 2011

Garden Designers Roundtable: Getting from Here to There

Gateways

Gateways are the physical transition that take us from one space to another space, 
to another frame of mind, 
to another world . . .
Casa Benvenides, Taos, New Mexico


Gateways from the public space to the private;
Let your needs for security and/or privacy guide your choice of height and density.
Village of Rowdat, Afghanistan, 9.26.2011 - photo courtesy Jonathan Hooper, USDA
Classic walled garden:  RHS GardenWisley, Surrey, England - photo courtesy Elenor Welshon
The Waring House, Denver Botanic Gardens
 Taos, New Mexico
Classic picket fence: Denver, Colorado
design by Jerry Nelson Landscape and Design,Greeley, Colorado

Gateways that create a sense of place;
Let the culture of your region guide your choice of materials.
Adobe and traditional blue trim (to ward off evil spirits): Taos, New Mexico
Wood & flagstone in Denver, Colorado - design by Phase One Landscapes
Asian influenced design: northern California

Gateways  reflect your personal aesthetic;
Let the architecture of your home guide your choice of design.
Classical styling for a Georgian home - Denver, Colorado
Custom artwork (23rd Ave Sculpture Studio) for a contemporary home - Denver, Colorado
Simple contemporary styling for a mid-century home - Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Southwestern gateway styling complements home in Denver, Colorado
 Now it's up to you to make that gateway meaningful by creating a personal outdoor environment that fulfills all of your dreams!

Need some help? Click on the tabs above to learn more about my landscape design and coaching services.

Be sure to visit my fellow members of the Garden Designers' Roundtable and our esteemed guests for more on Getting From Here to There:
Debra Prinzing & David Perry:  A Fresh Bouquet
Pam Penick : Digging : Austin, TX
Scott Hokunson : Blue Heron Landscapes : Granby, CT
Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In The Garden : Los Altos, CA
Jenny Peterson : J Peterson Garden Design : Austin TX
Susan Cohan : Miss Rumphius’ Rules : Chatham, NJ
Susan Morrison : Blue Planet Garden Blog : East Bay, CA
Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK
Christina Salwitz : Personal Garden Coach : Renton, WA

ETA: photo from Afghanistan;  brother-in-law working as agricultural consultant with USDA.

20 comments:

Desert Dweller said...

And I like your take on "getting there"...gates and entries. I really need to post on this! Casa Benavides in Taos - stayed there 2 magical times. The others fun and thought-provoking, too...thanks!

Jocelyn H. Chilvers said...

You're welcome! Gates - and fences, too - can be so much more than the usual 6' privacy bore. Yes, would love to see your take on this topic, David!

ScottHokunson said...

The boundaries and definitions of movement in the garden... Brilliant! I didn't see that coming but it makes perfect sense. Great pictures!

Anonymous said...

Your interpretation of this topic is inspired! You covered such a wide range of style, I loved it! And of course your photos are lovely. Thanks!

JennyP said...

Oh, gates & doors--I love photographing these in the garden, and your pics are stunning. I think that blue gate with the adobe wall is my favorite--so striking!

Pam/Digging said...

A doorway in a garden is a huge enticement. Think of The Secret Garden and the door in the wall. We all want to know what's on the other side. Great take on this topic, Jocelyn. Your last photo is my favorite. I love the southwestern look -- in the right context.

Robert Webber said...

Hoped some1 would deal with transition and mood change and u have! Such a good pivotal point to make.
Thanks and Best
R

Debra said...

Hi Jocelyn, this is a beautiful and inspiring post. Gates are very powerful, especially when used thoughtfully and strategically as you have explained here!
Thank you, Debra

Jocelyn H. Chilvers said...

Thanks Scott and Christine, I had to dig deep to come up with a different approach, but had a blast once I hit on the right idea. Glad you enjoyed it!

Jenny, I'm always attracted to these features, too. These photos are just a small selection from my collection!

Pam, I would love to see behind that door in Afghanistan - a whole new world, I'm sure.

Robert, thanks for the thumbs up - appreciate it!

Debra, there should be reasoning and thoughtful consideration behind every choice in the garden. Glad to share some tips!

rebecca sweet said...

What a perfect interpretation of today's theme - gates! And such beautiful photos as well. Truly a delight to experience!!

Genevieve said...

I am cracking up right now. One of those photos is of my client's place! Unfortunately I wasn't responsible for the gate - I just recently began doing the cloud pruning for their pines, among other things - but I squeaked loudly when I saw it. Too funny!!

Great photos, Jocelyn. Love the inspiration.

Susan aka Miss R said...

As usual we think along the same lines. I have hundreds of photos of gates and doorways hoarded away for inspiration. There's something magical about going through a portal. What's beyond becomes the story after that action, but the physical barrier sets the first scene.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers said...

Sweet of you to say so, Rebecca!

Genevieve, I love the Asian design of that gateway, and the craftsmanship is fabulous. Too bad it doesn't relate well to the architecture of the house. Glad you enjoyed seeing it - small world, eh?

Susan: Exactly!

Deb said...

Wonderful pictures. I am looking forward to seeing the ones from Taos this weekend!
Your blog is always such an inspiration, I will be looking at gates in a new way now.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers said...

Yes, Deb, lots of wonderful nooks and crannies to explore in Taos, and many of them start with a gateway!! Thanks for your comments!

Anonymous said...

Great post, Jocelyn, and a good reminder not to take any aspect of a landscape for granted. Everything is connected, and every element is an opportunity for expression.

Shirley Bovshow "EdenMaker" said...

Jocelyn,
I like your take on gateways that mark the path from "here to there!" Original and great examples.
shirley

Jocelyn H. Chilvers said...

Thank you Susan and Shirley!I always feel that hardscape design is my Achilles heel, so I try to focus on and learn from the best examples. Glad you enjoyed the post!

Commonweeder said...

What beautiful gates. I love the idea of the promise inherent in stepping through a gate. A couple of years ago I went to an exhibit of Artist's Gates at the Norman Rockwell Museum. Some of them whimsically reflected the garden, and some were elegant, but all showed a new way of approaching the concept of GATE.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers said...

I agree - gates are an opportunity for self expression as well as for "setting the stage". Thanks for stopping by!