Part 1: Garden design techniques

11. Perspective

A view of formal gardens which appear to get smaller over distance.

Amber Crowley / public domain

Some basics about perspective that apply to garden design:

Objects in the distance look smaller than objects close to. In this picture the topiary cones look smaller in the distance than the ones nearer the camera:

The formal garden with two similar trees highlighted - the furthest away looks smaller.

Amber Crowley / public domain

Parallel lines look like they converge to a single point in the distance like the paths in this picture:

Lines are drawn over the paths to show how they appear to converge to a single distant point.

Amber Crowley / public domain

Understanding perspective is important in garden design to enable you to envisage what a finished design will look like, particularly in a big garden.

Activity

Find three examples of gardens on the internet in which you think perspective has been considered in the design.

Example:

A garden in which topiary trees recede into the distance creating lines which lead the eye to a focal point in the distance.