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When one thinks of a garden, the image that usually comes immediately to mind is one of artistically arranged flower beds, or rows of vegetables marching along a straight line. Indeed, our residential gardens are the most common style, but many other garden types flourish here in the United States and around the world. Many gardens are more than just floral displays, and exploring the following different types might give you some ideas for your own space.
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Stylistic Gardens
A garden designed around a style or cultural aesthetic sends a definite message - either obvious or subliminal. Following are several examples of such gardens. Picture these and think about how you would feel if you wandered through them.
- Japanese gardens - carefully designed spaces that invite contemplation and meditation
- Tropical gardens - regional displays of heat-loving and high moisture specimens
- Alpine or rock gardens - composed of rocks, wood, and plants requiring little water
- Children's gardens - designed as a learning experience about Nature
- English landscape gardens - park-like designs based on eighteenth century styles
- Topiary gardens - designed to display the art of plant sculpture
- Geometric gardens - mazes, for instance; often part of a formal garden (see below)
- Zen gardens - Far Eastern gardens for prayer or meditation
- Water gardens - composed predominantly of aquatic plants, fish, and wildlife
- Formal gardens - precisely laid-out, ornate, and often extravagant
- Wildflower gardens - replicas of meadow or hillside natural growth
- Xeriscapes - display of native plants that require no water, often planted in rock "beds"
Feature or Display Gardens
Other types of gardens may feature an individual plant type. These gardens can be ornamental, food-producing, or a combination of both. Interesting and beautiful, purely ornamental gardens can provide the same soothing feelings as those mentioned in the previous list. Examples include:
- Rose garden - a display or test garden for different varieties
- Winter garden - plants, shrubs and trees with winter interest
- Flower garden - specimens planted for their blooms
- Fernery - shade garden for moisture-loving ferns
- Cactus garden - desert style display of cacti and succulents
Garden designs that provide food may also be very attractive:
- herb gardens
- vegetable gardens
- orchards
Special Gardens
Additional garden types include the following:
Sacred garden - a place for meditation and prayer  Roof garden - planted on top of a building to conserve energy and natural resources Cottage garden - small and charming personal space Community garden - a project that draws townspeople together with Nature Hydroponic garden - supported by water soluble minerals and artificial light Raised bed garden - a built-up bed surrounded by retaining materials Sensory garden - provides experiences of sight, touch, smell, taste, and sound Windowbox - a close-at-hand gardening experience Zoological garden - a garden design which displays animals in natural habitat  Botanical garden - a wide variety of plants grown for scientific study and documentation Wildlife habitat - a landscape designed to feed and protect birds and small wild animals Butterfly garden - a special selection of nectar-producing flowers to attract butterflies Trial garden - a testing ground for new specimens and hybrids, as well as new techniques Organic garden - a garden space free of pollutants, chemicals, and synthetic materials Arboretum - a garden of trees and shrubs grown for study and/or display Historic gardens - gardens established early in history 
Cemetery gardens - park-like landscape plantings in and around a major cemetery
A Personal Choice
No matter what style garden you choose to integrate into your landscape, it should and will bring you great enjoyment. Consider the details of space and regional requirements, then customize any garden style to be your very own.
 | Toni Leland has been writing for over 20 years. She has written a biweekly gardening newspaper column as a spokesman for the Ohio State University Master Gardener program, and writes for Grit magazine and Romance Writers Report. She has been a gardener all her life, working soil all over the world. In her day job, she scripts and produces educational DVDs about caring for Miniature Horses, as well as writing and editing books about this unique height breed. |
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Subject: Can it be done?
Posted by delzell (from Los Angeles, CA) on February 19, 2008 at 3:24 PM:This is the problem I have. Live in CA and collect cycads and few palms. Wife like Native plants of C A. Any idea on how they can be planted in the same yards? Still look good. ... Posted by tonileland (from Nashport, OH) on February 20, 2008 at 8:06 AM: Delzell,
It seems to me that you have the perfect situation for a garden that will please both you and your wife. I would use the cycads and palms as foundation or cornerstone plantings to frame your planting areas, and minimize use of lawn grass. Since California has such a wide array of wonderful and colorful native plants, the only limit to what you can plant is your imagination. Additionally, most of the species are drought tolerant.
Good luck! ...
Subject: Hi from Allen Co.
Posted by jsw45807 (from Lima, OH) on February 18, 2008 at 5:58 PM:Hello from fellow MG in Allen County, Ohio. Nice article, well written. Will look for you when I go to a state function in the future. ... Posted by tonileland (from Nashport, OH) on February 18, 2008 at 6:17 PM: Hi Back! Yes, please do look me up.
And thanks for the kind words. I have several other sub-articles that go after this one: Japanese Gardens, Xeriscape, For the Birds, Meditation or Sacred, and Historic (so far).
Stay warm!
... Posted by jsw45807 (from Lima, OH) on February 18, 2008 at 11:55 PM: I read your articles on the AEP green rooftop in Columbus and topiaries (is that the plural?) but can't find the articles you mentioned. Do you have links to them?
Stay warm is right! It's a fireplace and Chardonnay evening!! ... Posted by tonileland (from Nashport, OH) on February 19, 2008 at 7:16 AM: [[It's a fireplace and Chardonnay evening!]]
My kinda night! LOL
The articles I mentioned are in the to-be-published schedule. Coming up: 2/22, Xeriscaping. 2/29, Japanese Gardens.
At the end of each article is a link to my homepage and list of published articles, so you can always find me.
Thanks--have a great day! ...
Subject: Hillside plants
Posted by Kathleens5 (from Tacoma, WA) on February 18, 2008 at 11:41 AM:On the northside of the house in the northwest? ...
Subject: Very nice
Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on February 14, 2008 at 6:44 AM:Good information, thank you. ... Posted by Seandor (from Springfield, MA) on February 14, 2008 at 7:55 AM: But I want one of each kind of garden! LOL ... Posted by SongsofJoy (from New Hampshire, NH) on February 14, 2008 at 1:13 PM: Me too!! Anyone know how Zen & Japanese Gardens differ? ... Posted by tonileland (from Nashport, OH) on February 14, 2008 at 5:34 PM: My in-depth article on Japanese Gardens will be published on 2/29. I believe another author has a Zen garden article planned, as well, but I don't know when. Just visit often!!! LOL ... Posted by darius (from Appalachian Mtns, VA) on February 14, 2008 at 7:09 PM: Thanks. I know many newbies to gardening have a hard time describing garden styles, or deciding on one they want. This list should be very helpful. ... Posted by CapeCodGardener (from Yarmouthport, MA) on February 14, 2008 at 10:16 PM: Wonderful article, Toni--You did a great job of clarifying a huge subject.
And I agree with Seandor:
| Quoted: | | But I want one of each kind of garden! LOL |
In fact, your article made me realize that I already have sort of a jumble of several different gardens, all crammed into my back yard. Zen, it isn't.
Why NOT just keep tearing up that lawn??? LOL!... Posted by Fitsy (from Hayesville, NC) on February 18, 2008 at 11:51 AM: This concept can help with focusing our thoughts!
Thanks
Fitsy ...
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