OUGD603 - Brief 6 - Research Brief - Indoor Gardening - Research - Gardening in Miniature by Janit Calvo

Gardening in Miniature by Janit Calvo

- miniature gardening combines craft and gardening 

- allows dream gardens to be created within a small space 

- not expensive to do 

- 'terrariums, bonsai, dish gardens, and windowsill gardens all fit under the umbrella of miniature gardens simply because of their size'

- miniature gardens tell stories 
- miniature gardening uses many of the same elements as a normal garden however at a very small scale e.g. accessories and plants 
- consider what is used within a full scale garden as a way of starting miniature gardening 
- creates a world within a world
- knowing where a garden will live and what it will be planted in will influence what you can plant 
- containers are good for beginners
- placing miniature gardens in a prominent place makes it a talking point 

- inground miniature gardens are influenced by what already exists within the space. They are best in corners of the garden such as next to trees, shrubs garden gates etc

- pots for potted miniature gardens vary depending on taste and theme
- pots that wear well and that you like are important as miniature gardens can last for a long time 
- for beginners an eight to ten inch pot is useful
- terracotta, ceramic, plastic, wood, faux stone, hypertufa and concrete are all good materials for different types of pots. There is also an expanding market of pots made from recycled materials that look similar to traditional materials.  

- deciding if the garden will be indoors or out, what lighting is available will dictate what plants can be planted within these gardens. Having the right plants makes maintenance easier
- if you have less time consider plants that live in dryer climates, if you have more time to tend to your garden plants which need more water will be more appropriate.

- 'the same full sized garden design principles apply too: anchor points, layers, balance, form, texture, colour and focal point 
- three main scales are used within miniature gardens, 1 inch scale, 1/2 inch scale and 1/4 inch scale
- accessories alongside plants create a sense of scale and proportion relative to the items you put within the garden. When plants are on their own they are relative to one another with a 6 inch tree being a 6 foot tree in a large pot and a 12 foot tree in a medium pot
- 'an anchor point in a full sized garden is usually the largest element'
- 'layering create dimensionality and visual interest' - varying heights and boundaries add to this 
- in a miniature garden the whole space is viewed as one so balance is important 
- the elements within the garden should have different shapes and forms 
- foliage should be varied to create a variety of textures 
- using a consistent foliage scheme through a garden works well as too many can look busy within a garden 
- a focal point is an element that the eye is drawn to, it is usually a functional or decorative element. It also helps create a sense of scale within the miniature garden.