The art of stonescaping
| The timeless beauty and solidity of stone makes it the ideal natural
material for outdoor use. Attractive and durable, it adds value and charm to
the yard or the garden, writes T. Nandakumar. |
- Photo: S. Mahinsha
ENHANCING THE BEAUTY: Rocks, pebbles and shingle are some of the preferred
hardscape elements in a garden.
Gardening is the art of using Nature's touch to enhance the beauty of a home.
But Nature is not just greenery. It could even be something as inanimate as soil
or stone.
The artful application of landscaping stone can enhance the `softscape'
elements already employed in a garden - namely, the lawn and different species
of plants, shrubs and trees. It takes aesthetic and functional use of stone to
create the right effect.
The
elements
Rocks, pebbles and shingle are some of the preferred
hardscape elements in a garden. A large number of urban families are discovering
that lavish use of hardscape features could reduce the cost involved in
maintaining a garden and yet retain the proximity to nature.
After all, in a hi-tech, high-speed world, how many people
can find the time to indulge in routine maintenance jobs like pruning, cutting
grass and maintaining flowerbeds? Getting professional help may be the only
option but it is beyond the budget of most middle-class families.
Solidity
Landscape architects maintain that the timeless beauty and
solidity of stone makes it the ideal natural material for outdoor use.
Attractive and durable, it adds value and charm to the yard or the garden. Stone
is an excellent material for paving and steps; it is also used to create water
features, terraces, ponds, rockeries, troughs, columns and plant beds.
Some hardscape features will need a combination of
landscaping stone with mortar while others are simply arranged in different
configurations. Building curved walkways with stone slabs is a popular
technique. It softens the landscape and adds to the appeal by imparting a sense
of flow and motion. A curved walkway helps to make the garden unfold and add
expanse to it.
Another popular method is to strew the yard or flowerbeds
with small pebbles or shingle. There are many benefits in employing this method.
Unlike tiles or concrete surfaces, a gravel walkway or yard allows water to seep
through into the ground. The crunching sound of gravel underfoot also warns the
household of the arrival of an outsider.
Skilful
arrangement
A professional landscape artist depends on skilful
arrangement of stones in combination with plants to create a garden. While large
chunks of rock and stone are mostly employed to construct a focal point like a
rockery or cascade, the smaller pieces are used to create pebble beds or flower
beds. Colourful decorative stones add elements of interest but they are
expensive.
A creative
art
"Stonescaping is a creative art. It requires careful
selection and the right combination of stone and plants. The quality, colour and
shape of the stone is an important factor. While woodstone, hard pebbles and
coloured rocks are costly, the locally available pebbles and rock are more
affordable," says B.R. Sreekumar, chief executive of Perfect Agri Management
Corporation, Thiruvananthapuram. Stone is also emerging as a popular choice for
courtyard setting. "The availability of artificial stones to match different
room colours is one of the major factors that has triggered the trend for
construction of courtyards in modern houses," says Mr. Sreekumar.
Courtesy: The Hindu - Property Plus
