Weingrod Nomi

Like any piece of music or art, a garden is a collaboration of architecture, color, texture, fragrance and feelings. These are some of the elements that contribute to its "spirit of space." The garden begins with a border, usually an evergreen border, which serves to frame the area and creates an atmosphere of privacy. A dark, thick hedge is not always necessary: sometimes a dotted hedge, comprising just a few shrubs and a small tree, can engender the feeling of a boundary. If your garden borders onto an open view, this feature can be enhanced by allowing the natural landscape to enter your own property. This brings to mind a garden that I designed many years ago in the Lower Galilee area. The area opened out onto an extensive olive grove at the back of the house. The simple addition of four or five olive trees to the garden created a sense of oneness with the outer landscape and a feeling of having "a dopted" the olive orchard. After establishing the border, one can then begin to divide the area into "rooms." Like the segments of an orange, a garden can be divided up into specific spaces for the owner's convenience. The first "room" begins with the entrance. This is probably the most impressive area, since it assumes the role of welcoming both guest and home owner. From a more practical point of view, it also serves as the "frame" of the house. In the entrance, begin by spacing out a few "specimen" plants to distinguish the garden's unique character as well as that of the owner and the house itself. This is a great place to plant a unusual tree or annuals that will leave a lasting impression on anyone entering the house or leaving the garden. Moving on, we enter the "living room" or "family room." Here, there is often a stretch of grass to play on and a space big enough to fit a table or two. This is the place to plant a large shade tree and set up a play area for children. Here, too, the room is encircled by a more or less evergreen border and perhaps dotted with flowering shrubs and perennials with interesting flowers, fruits and fragrances. A daily visit to the kitchen garden, usually situated on the southern side of the plot, is a must. This is an ideal spot for a lemon tree and also a perfect place to plant the herbs and vegetables that thrive so wonderfully in Israel. The original bustan (Arabic for garden) once encompassed the entire property, its sole purpose being to provide the house with fruits and vegetables. Today, we try to have at least one designated area for these important plants. The next room is often the "study," which is the most intimate part of the garden. This may be an offshoot of the "living room," or any area that allows one to feel cut off from the intrusion of telephones and street noise, thus creating an inner, private dream world. This space need not be large: just enough to seat three to four people at most. It can be situated near a grassy plot, or outside the master bedroom, or even on a roof patio. I see it being surrounded by special plants to create an atmosphere of enveloping greenery. The planting of vines, such as the night jasmine, will give off a beautiful fragrance, to be enjoyed while meditating or simply relaxing. The feeling of water nearby can be easily created by the addition of an artificial goldfish pond, a reflecting pool, or even a rock and water fountain. The soothing sound of purling water helps to clear one's mind after a hard day's work. The colors and fragrances of the garden, and the mood it conveys through the light of its trees, serve to set the scene just as in a fine composition. The secret of any garden lies in finding the right balance between plants, paving and spatial planes. A person and his or her garden should flow together, changing and growing through the seasons.
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