The Old Rectory: mood

The Old Rectory: Mood

Structure is what makes a place work and feel engaging. Different spaces can inspire intrigue by introducing surprises and mood changes.

• The canal and the walls are the main devices in this garden to distinguish between individual places and different worlds: the formality of the canal garden, the informality of the pond, river and potager, and calmness of the lawn, orchard and western terrace.
• These different chapters allow for a more dynamic journey through the garden, and that journey can also be experienced in multiple ways, according to the time of day or year.
• When looking at your own space, consider what structure might already be in place. Is there an existing tree or hedge that might be able to provide a separation between one place and the next?
• Can you play around with the structure of your garden to offer a different aspect or experience of a space?

What can you use to create a structure of different chapters and moods in your garden?

Borrowed views

• Incorporating elements that may be beyond the parameters of your space, but hold a strong visual presence, will elevate the experience of your garden. They can also be the anchor to a space that you want to create. For example, a framed view of a church spire may signify a space that is dedicated to quiet reflection. Or perhaps a neighbour's wall that is drenched in evening sun is the backdrop to an eating area.

Colour

• Hugely influential in terms of both mood and space, colour is a powerful design tool. Brighter colours can make a space feel energetic and charged, while pale colours may signify a quieter, more tranquil place. Where you position flowers and plants will also impact the way they are experienced them; light and shade will alter the vividness of a plant's colour.

Water

• I love the use of water in a garden because it's so elemental. It interacts with the other elements in a kinetic way, while also appealing to the senses. A water feature can make a space feel soothing and calm, or lively and full of movement. Bodies of water can also be used to separate spaces. When working with water, keep it simple; there's nothing worse than a water feature that doesn't quite work.

Your Assignment

Take each zone or chapter of your garden, and assess how it is structured and contained. You can also jot down ideas of how to introduce more of this to enhance the mood of a place.

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6