1. FORMAL GARDEN AND INFORMAL GARDEN
Lecture by
Dr. Mrs. M. R. Mote
S.Y.B.Sc.

2. A Garden
A garden is a planned space which is set aside for the display, cultivation and enjoyment of plants as well as other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. Depending on the layout, the gardens are categorized into two types viz., formal garden and informal garden.

3. Formal Garden
A formal garden is a neatly ordered garden having geometric and symmetric patterns which are laid out carefully in planned matter. The simplest formal garden would be a box-trimmed hedge enclosing a flowerbed of simple geometric shape. The most elaborate formal gardens contain radiating avenues, path of gravel, lawns, plant-beds, statuary, water pools of geometric shapes with fountains etc. Trees, shrubs and other foliage in a formal garden should be carefully arranged, shaped and continually trimmed. The lawns and hedges in a formal garden must always be kept neatly clipped. Pavements for pathways and terraces may be of bricks, stones or concrete. The furnishings and accessories should be arranged in formal manner.

4. The basic principles which should be observed while constructing the formal garden are as follows:
Symmetry: Symmetrical layout the main principle behind formal garden. No matter the overall scale or the shape of the garden, if one draws a line down the middle of the garden, it’s one side should the mirror image of the other. Symmetry enables the garden to impose order, balance and harmony onto the changing canvas of nature.
Flat Ground Plane: Most of the great formal gardens throughout history underwent considerable leveling of the terrain through terracing and step ramps. A formal garden requires a flat plane to create the most visual impact.

5. Basic Principles
Well-Planned Pathways: Walking around or through a formal garden, is the best way to appreciate it. Ideally, paths are wide enough to accommodate two people side by side. Gravel, stone, and brick are good choices for paving. A sailor edge of brick set three inches above the finished pathway provides a well-drained planting bed and defines the edge. Grass paths also work well for formal gardens. Pathways outline the geometric shapes of the planting beds and interlock to form the overall pattern of the garden.

6. Basic Principles
Strong Axis: Paths provide visual sight lines or axes that lead to dramatic end points, which are typically punctuated with an urn, statue, arch, gate that arrest and captivates the eye. To frame an axial view, sculptural forms of evergreen plants are placed at the entry and exit.
Enduring Structural Appeal: Even after the annuals fade and the perennials disappear for the winter, a formal garden still holds the gaze with the underlying architecture of its design. The elegant arrangement of its path and beds; the beauty of its brickwork, stonework, pots, fountains or statuary provide a beautiful picture even in the winter months. Evergreen forms also help to hold its configuration and preserve its beauty in any season.

7. Basic Principles
Defined Borders: One of the most intriguing aspects of any formal garden is its enclosure. Many formal gardens are conceived as a series of rooms defined by tall, clipped hedges or brick walls.

8. A typical formal garden shows presence of following garden features:
Terrace: Since a level of the site is regarded as a requisite for comfort, a raised viewing platform called ‘terrace’ made its appearance in Persian gardening tradition. These terraces were used to view the enclosed orchard or paradise form a ceremonial tent. In gardening, a terrace is an element where a raised flat paved or graveled section overlooks a prospect. A raised terrace keeps a house or main building dry and provides a transition between the hard materials of the architecture and softer ones of the garden.

9. Terrace Garden

10. Pathways
Pathways: Pathway facilitates the moving in a garden. Garden paths are the routes, which connect different parts of the garden and give access to other garden features and resources that reside in it. While serving the practical purpose, paths also add aesthetic appeal to the gardens. Many gardens are highlighted by their paths that accentuate the planning and other features.

11. Pathways

12. Topiary
Topiary: Topiary is the art of creating sculptures in the medium of clipped trees, and shrubs. The trees and shrubs used in topiary are evergreen have small leaves or needles with dense foliage and show compact or columnar growth habits. Common plants used in topiary include Pinus spp, Thuja spp., Taxus spp., Polyalthia spp., Eugenia spp., Clerredendron spp., Justicia spp., Eranthemum spp. Etc. Shaped wire cages are sometimes employed in modern topiary to guide untutored shears, but traditional topiary depends on patience and a steady hand; small-leaved ivy can be used to cover a cage and give the look of topiary in a few months.

13. Topiary work

14. Topiary work

15. Topiary work

16. Hedge
Hedge: A hedge is a line of closely spaced shrubs and tree planted and trained in such a way, that they form a barrier or mark the boundary of the area. It is a simple form of topiary. Hedges used to separate a road from the adjoining fields or one field from another.

17. Hedge

18. Hedge

19. Arches
Arches: It is one of the important garden features. It is an arc which is supported by pillars and covered totally by clipping and training the climbing plants like Ipomoea spp., Rose spp., Clitoria spp. Etc.

20. Arches

21. Pergola
Pergola: A pergola is a garden feature forming a shaded walk or passageway of pillars that support cross beams and a sturdy open lattice, upon which woody vines are trained. Pergolas may link pavilions or may extend from a building’s door to an open garden feature such as an isolated terrace or pool. Sometimes, it may be entirely free-standing structures providing shelter and shade to a length of walkway.

22. Pergola

23. Pergola

24. Statuary
Statuary: Sometimes the statuary also becomes a part of the formal garden and beautifies it. A statue is a full-length sculpture of a person, an animal or an event, which is close to life-size or larger. Statues serve dual purpose. They serve as memorials of great people who have contributed to the welfare of the society or as decorative status not only to beautify the garden but also the edification of the visitor.

25. Statuary

26. Statuary

27. Statuary

28. Landscaping
Landscaping: It refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land. Landscaping is the use of ornamental plants & other elements to fulfill aesthetic & functional purposes. It is both science and art which requires good observation and designing skills. A good landscaper first understands the elements of nature as well as construction and then blends them accordingly.

29. Landscaping

30. Landscaping

31. Pavilion
Pavilion: It refers to a free-standing structure sited at a short distance from the main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. They often resemble to small classical temples and are built for pleasure and relaxation.

32. Pavilion

33. Pavilion

34. Parterre
Parterre: A parterre is a formal garden construction on a level surface consisting of planting beds, edged in stone or rightly clipped hedging and gravel paths arranged to form a pleasing symmetrical pattern. Many times, it becomes a part of open theatre and ‘orchestra seats’ or ‘stalls’.

35. Parterre

36. Sylvan theater
Sylvan theater: A sylvan theater which is also knows as Greenery Theater is a type of outdoor theater, situated in a wooden setting. Often adorned with classical columns and statues, a sylvan theater may substitute the lawn and can be used for seating. Sylvan theater includes elaborate arrangements of shrubs, flowers and other greenery.

37. Sylvan theater

38. INFORMAL GARDEN
Informal garden is an exotic attempt to mimic the nature. It is a landscape casually designed with few straight lines having a nice mixture of foliage, colors, textures, heights and varieties. Informal gardens act as a temporary sanctuary that offers a relaxed ambience from day-to-day stressful life.

39. Types of Informal Garden
Within the informal garden styles, variations have been evolved. Cottage gardens, woodland gardens and meadow gardens are a few of these variations.

40. Cottage Gardens/Kitchen Gardens
These are the real working gardens that yield edible crops including fruits, vegetables, herbs as well as flowers. Flowers are the essential part of any working garden as they attract bees and other insects to the vegetable garden to ensure good crop pollination. Cottage garden flowers also attract birds that help control harmful insect populations. Cottage Gardens traditionally have pathways weaving throughout the garden beds to facilitate tending and harvesting crops. Informal fencing and operational gates prevent domestic and wild animals from traipsing through the gardens and destroying the crops.

41. Cottage Garden

42. Kitchen Garden

43. Kitchen Garden

44. Wild & woodland Gardens
Wild and woodland garden is a naturalistic style designed to provide a beautiful and relaxing type of garden and provide a habitat suitable not only for plants but also for local animals. These gardens usually include a water source and safe shelter to attract a range of wildlife. Small trees and shrubs provide an abundance of nesting place for birds and hibernating insects. Suitable plants include those that retain their seeds through the winter as a food source for wildlife.

45. Wild Gardens

46. woodland Garden

47. Meadow & Wildflower Gardens
Meadow and wildflower gardening is a modern type of informal gardening. It uses localized plants in a garden setting. These types of gardens are often the best way to plant an area that doesn’t lend itself to more conventional cultivation. Wildflower gardening is helpful to conserve native species threatened by erosion of natural habitats. It’s not possible to create habitats exactly, but growing even small area of wildflowers contributes to the conservation and attracts varieties of insects and other beneficial wildlife into the garden.

48. Meadow Garden

49. Meadow Garden

50. Wildflower Garden