PLANTING DESIGN OF PARKS 



exact knowledge in the principles of design governing the use of such 

 plant material will make each new precept encountered seem applicable 

 to some one of his daily problems. 



TOO GREAT SHADE DETRIMENTAL 



Planting is done for two reasons: for shade and for ornamental 

 interest. Shade is usually overdone. The visitor to a park in summer 

 seeks the cool recesses of shady grove, but does not desire subterranean 

 gloom. His chief requirement is that the walks which he follows, or 

 the seats where he may desire repose, shall be amply shaded ; the sun 

 may revel over all other areas so far as he is concerned. Yet it seems 

 to be a popular park doctrine that another tree shall be planted in 

 every open space. Such a policy has made dismal woods of many 

 park areas, shutting out all light and air, and converting them into 

 foliage crypts. 



Trees, especially in small parks, had best be planted only along 

 the walk lines or where a grove is desired to furnish shade for park 

 benches. All other spaces are preferably left free of trees, both to 

 serve as breezeways during summer weather and to admit sunlight into 

 the park. An artist knows that pictorial composition depends in large 

 part upon contrast of light and shade, and the shade cast by dense trees 

 in a park composition needs to have for contrast the play of sunlight 

 upon open lawns. It will be impossible to obtain landscape pictures 

 without such lighting. Moreover, it is in the framing and setting of 

 these green lawn fragments that the plant designer finds opportunity 

 to create contrastful compositions of foliage and flower. 



ADORNMENT, NOT GARNITURE 



Planting of parks, though popularly done for the purpose of 

 rendering them ornamental, should never appear in the character of a 

 display. A preponderance of vivid-hued specimens with curious leaves 



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