20 LANDSCAPE GARDEN SERIES 



cession of bloom through the season. Most notable of these are the 

 Peony, Phlox, and Iris, which grade in leaf color value respectively 

 low, medium and high, as well as furnishing a pleasing variation in 

 form, not to speak of a wide range of color hues and intensities, and 

 succession of bloom. 



Form characteristics react similarly on the observer. The axial 

 characteristics are perhaps most noticeable. Plants whose horizontal 

 axis is much longer than the vertical seem to parallel the horizon or 

 ground line and increase the feeling of breadth. When placed near 

 a building they make it seem higher than it is, for the vertical lines of 

 the building are in opposition to the plant line. Plants whose vertical 

 axis is the longer are in opposition to the horizon and destroy breadth. 

 Placed near a building, they make it seem lower, creating opposition 

 to the horizontal lines of the building- 

 Plants of rectangular outline are in opposition if the one has a 

 strong vertical axis, the other a strong horizontal axis. Plants of the 

 same axial character but of varying outline are not in opposition, but 

 contrast, so that a plant of triangular outline may be used as an accent 

 in a group of round-shaped plants. 



It should always be the aim of the designer to effect transition 

 wherever diametrically opposed forms, lines or colors are brought to- 

 gether. It is for this reason that shrubs are planted against a house 

 to soften the sharp opposition of vertical house line and horizontal 

 ground line. Similarly we observe the "I, 2, 3", of shrub heights in 

 the informal types of planting, placing the higher growing plants in the 

 background, the medium heights or "fillers" next in front, and the 

 low "facer" shrubs in front of the "fillers", so that there is a gradual 

 transition from the height of the background shrubs to the ground 

 level. 



Method of branching is often a strong modifying factor in form 

 effect. In the Tupelo tree the vertical axis is dominant, but the 

 branches are horizontal with a slight downward tendency at the ends, 

 so that the Tupelo is in sharp contrast with other trees of similar 

 height and axial characteristic. The general effect of the tree is hori- 

 zontal rather than vertical. 



Character is ascribed to individual species mainly through their 

 methods of branching. The Elm is said to be graceful, stately. The 

 Weeping Willow is restful. The Oak is sturdy. Plants are also con- 

 sidered to be peculiarly expressive of the country in which they are 

 native when they emphasize the horizon character or topography of 

 that country. 



