Landscape - Using Natural Patterns in Landscape Design

I sat in an interesting talk yesterday on using natural patterns to create landscape designs. The following are some of the patterns that were discussed.

• Scattered patterns - in scattered patterns there will be random clumps with space between
• Serpentine - this is a snake like pattern
• Mosaic - this is a pattern that is developed by patching smaller units into an overall larger pattern
• Naturalistic drift - This is a larger planting of one species that is linear or curvilinear in nature against a background of a different species.
• Dendritic - this is a branching pattern similar to a tree
• Network - in a network pattern, multiple lines intersect each other in the pattern
• Spiral - a coiling shape
• Radial - a pattern where everything radiates from a center outward

I will give examples of these in pictures in future posts.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County.