Natural gardens play an increasingly important role in landscape architecture, as they are spaces for the harmonious coexistence of man and nature.This concept fits in with the noble idea of biodiversity, which is based on the assumption that the more organisms inhabiting a given area, the more connections between these organisms, and as a result, the greater the durability and vitality of the local environment. All this is for the benefit of man.
Natural gardens look wild, but the wildness is harnessed and fully controlled. The more difficult it is to draw the boundaries between what was created by the hand of man and what was created spontaneously by Mother Nature, the better. Because you have to remember that natural gardens cannot exist in isolation from the surrounding environment.In principle, they should complement it. This will allow, among others free migration of representatives of the surrounding fauna.
In the natural garden no chemical plant protection products are used, it is also good to leave part of the garden undeveloped. Because wherever wild plants grow - nettles, couch grass, dandelions or gout, or a pile of stones, there are favorable conditions for the life of many small vertebrates.An excellent source of nectar for bees, bumblebees and hoverflies are, among others luxuriantly blooming flowers of Echinacea, Echinacea and Liatra.There is also more and more talk about building and setting up insect hotels (for bees, mason bees, earwigs).
Diversity is the most important thing in a natural garden. Diversity of plantings and architectural diversity. If you are planning a hedge, let's plant a viburnum, privet, honeysuckle or honeysuckle.These shrubs grow and bloom equally.And at the end of the season they bear fruit, which is a valuable source of food, especially for birds.
The element bordering on styles are dry walls. Depending on the purpose, they may be more or less formal. As the dry wall is erected without mortar, the gaps between the stones are a safe hiding place for insects and sand lizards.In the summer you can observe how these thermophilic reptiles lie on the stones.In the joints of a dry wall, you can plant carpet plants, such as sedum plants, colonies, saxifrages, carnations and thyme.
Rest in a natural garden
The natural garden is a place of rest for the whole family, and at the same time a safe refuge for various species of plants and animals. The more varied and varied the environment, the better. The key word here is biodiversity.This gardening philosophy is based on keeping the balance in nature, and it can be obtained, among others.in by combining different backgrounds.Here is an example of such a successful coexistence.
The pond was established right next to the terrace. Within it, it was possible to separate a marsh zone with such plants as mud and sedge. Thanks to them, the transition from the water zone to the coastal zone, where the beds are located, is barely noticeable. In summer, the yellow flowering dotted eaten sets the tone here.A few steps further there is a gravel square, used seasonally as a relaxation area.
On the neighbor's side, the plot is sheltered by a high, freely growing hedge, in which the first fiddle is played by a budleja, in summer even stuck with butterflies clinging to its flowersGoing deeper into the garden, we pass willow heads (from their cut a fence was woven in early spring.Behind dry walls there are raised flower beds. Lizards (including slowworms) and even toads have a chance to settle in the gaps between the stones.
The center of the raised bed was filled with an alkaline, not very fertile substrate, so as to create favorable living conditions for Mediterranean herbs and ornamental plants. The vegetable patch is cultivated without the use of chemical protection measures, the plants are fed with compost of their own production.The composters are hidden behind a partition made of dry branches, which are also a safe haven for insects.A recognizable feature of the garden is an old apple tree which not only yields abundantly, but also gives shelter to birds.
