What turns a beautiful setting into a magical place? Much of the way we feel about a landscape is based on how the human mind, eye and emotions work together to comprehend their surroundings. What our eye sees brings a mental and emotional reaction. This happens fairly fast and establishes a comfort level and sense about what we see. “Wow, great ocean view,” or “thrilling mountain vista”—whatever our eye sees in one view, our whole being quickly comes to terms with and sums it up. At that point, no matter how spectacular the place, there is little pull to continue exploring—we’ve got it.
On the other hand, when the path winds around the corner and there is a beautiful plant beyond that you can’t quite see, you are drawn to continue exploring to find out what lies beyond the turn. When there is an opening in the hedge it pulls us through to find out what is on the other side. It is these hinted at pleasures that spark our imagination and entice us to continue the journey through the landscape.
Dividing the landscape up into different areas that are not all seen at once can be done with imaginative use of shrub borders, arbors, gates, hedges and fences. The house itself can act as a visual barrier to a new area. This allows one to create garden rooms, passageways, entry portals and allays that can each have a different feel and use. A quiet private nook can be linked to an expansive recreation area by a winding path that has pleasurable small vignettes around each corner that delight and surprise you. The landscape then is developed into a journey that saves some of its treasures to be discovered along the way. That offers the senses more pleasure and the imagination more room to soar.
Most of the great landscapes have used these techniques. If you visit Moraine Farm in Beverly when it is open to the public, you can see Olmstead’s use of these techniques. You enter the property by a leisurely driveway with vistas to beautiful farm fields and a view of a wonderful old barn and farmhouse. The drive takes a jog and you pass through a rhododendron dale with just a glimpse of the grand old stone house. It is not until you have entered this main house or gone around it onto the terrace beyond, that you are even aware that the house borders Wenham Lake. There are spectacular views of the lake and surrounding woodland. Beside the main house, at the end of the main lawn sits a charming tea house with a stone wall framing either side. An opening in the wall entices you over. Once there you are treated to yet another surprise. There 12’ below you is a sunken perennial garden with a hidden bench area carved out of the space below the tea house. You would have never guessed this garden and quiet nook existed until you got all the way to the end of the lawn.
You don’t need acres to enjoy the pleasures offered by introducing a bit of mystery and intrigue into your landscape. Even a small property can offer magic and intrigue with the thoughtful use of space segregation and elements of surprise and humor. So have some fun and see what new pleasures are waiting for you out your own back door.