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INFORMAL LANDSCAPING

Informal landscaping appears like natural growth although it
has a basic plan related to the lines of the house and lot. No
straight lines or severe, geometric curves are used; the edges of
the planting are irregular; the balance is asymmetrical.

Informal grounds should be designed with the utmost simplicity.
Two or three main views from the terrace, living room, or dining
room should first be located. A feature of interest such as a gate
or seat should be placed at the end of some important views, but
the development should not reveal all these features except to
those who explore it. A hidden winding path which adds charm
and mystery is a possibility even in a fairly small lot. Flowers
should usually be located at the edges of the higher planting in a
natural effect. See page 144 for examples.

Most properties should have somewhat informal landscaping,
unless they are very small or very close to the heart of a city. The
casual effect of informal landscaping is expressive of the attitude
of today. A blending of informal design with functional design is
probably the most suitable landscaping for this age, as the most
important objective is to make the grounds usable.

One type of informal landscaping, which is entirely naturalistic,
is copied from the woods and fields. The edge of a pasture shows
nature's way of raising the eyes gradually from grass to flowers,
then to low bushes, high bushes, low trees, and last to high trees.
Flowers occur in casual drifts, repeated in different quantities here
and there, with a great show of one particular kind of blossom at
one time, but with little variety.

Wild garden areas are sometimes suitable in suburban grounds.
Their purpose is educational as well as esthetic. A wild area looks
particularly well in a depression, with grass paths winding through
it. The arrangement of a wild section should, of course, be as
natural as can be achieved. Native plant material should be freely
used not only in such segregated sections but in any landscaping,

Rock gardens must also be entirely natural in appearance. They
look right only where there are banks, streams, or natural out-
croppings of rocks* Low alpine plants and sedums are used in
such gardens, for they suit the contours of rocks and conceal the
meeting of rocks and earth.