The physical properties of the various elements in a landscape, such as colour, form and texture, play a significant role in determining the overall impact on the homeowner, visitors and passersby.
Consider for a moment the effect of just one colour, one form, and one texture. Boring? Even the most minimalistic landscape design is made more appealing by utilizing some variation to create interest and drama.
Form directs the eye. A pyramidal or columnar form, for example, directs the eye upward whereas a horizontal form emphasizes the width of a space. Texture can be fine, medium, or coarse. Take the Othello ligularia, for example, with its huge, dark green leaves, distinctive purple veins and purple undersides. Its imposing size creates patterns of light and shadow, providing interest and commanding our attention. The same characteristics apply to boulders.
Incorporating boulders into the landscape offers many great opportunities for form, colour and texture. A small property in a densely populated suburban neighbourhood or a more expansive property on the outskirts of a city, whether it is flat or steeply sloped, can be radically altered in appearance and use through the addition of boulders.
Scale and strategic placement of boulders is as integral to a successful landscape design as the arrangement of plants in a planting scheme. Size matters and so does selection.
Each boulder is unique. Black granite may have predominant veins of brown iron oxide for a rusty colour or glistening white quartz. Many boulders are sourced from Bissett although other areas in Manitoba such as Stonewall, and Hadashville provide a range of brown, pink, and black granite.
Russ Penny and Justin Harris are co-owners of Netley Creek Landscaping. About 95 per cent of their clients want boulders incorporated into their landscapes. Penny says that interest in boulders is huge and that while granite dominates, limestone is making a comeback. Regardless of your preference, the goal is to achieve a natural look, said Penny, not one that is staged.
According to Penny, while boulders can be added to an existing landscape they are also one of the first things to be installed in a new landscape design. It isn't as simple as setting them on top of grass, rather they are incorporated in conjunction with other elements so as to complement the details of the house and landscape.
Similar to adding plants to a bed, boulders are often situated in groups of three or more of the same type. Usually there is a feature boulder. Sometimes, in the case of a massive boulder that might be more than one metre tall and wide, the soil is cut back to partially nest the boulder which gives it even more of a natural appearance. Proportion in relation to nearby plants such as shrubs is also an important consideration.
In one project done by Netley Creek Landscaping, started June 15 in the Deer Pointe neighbourhood in Headingley, four semi-loads of boulders and rocks have been used in the design which includes a stream, retaining walls, stone steps and patios. A semi-circle of giant sized flat top boulders provides unique seating around a fire pit. The effect is both dramatic and breathtaking. The boulders throughout the property have been set into place without mortar. Penny and Harris installed weed barrier behind the boulder walls to contain the fill, then filled in the gaps with smaller granite rocks.
The berms that have been created in the area of the stream and pond accentuate the overall rugged theme and are in good proportion to the landscape. Berms are fascinating additions to a landscape, especially to flatlanders like ourselves. They must be done right, though. Appropriate height, width, degree of slope as well as compaction is critical or they can end up looking silly. For the Deer Pointe landscape, Penny trucked in several semi-loads of fill to create the various elevations and used a bobcat to firm the soil.
A tunnel consisting of a large water pipe from Lafarge Cement (one metre in diameter) has been installed inside one of the berms for children to climb through. A bit of padding adds comfort to the adventure. Rocks cascade over the sides of the tunnel, concealing it, for a delightful kids-only feature.
Penny says the proliferation of walk-out basements in new developments has resulted in more and more properties with steep slopes. Sloping landscapes present unique challenges, but also add a third dimension, making the landscape much more interesting. Great big chunks of rock used to create the stairs that lead to the backyard at the Deer Pointe property have been installed on a specially prepared base. Penny doesn't use sand for any of his stone work and instead, uses 3/4 down limestone which packs harder than sand to avoid shifting.
The dramatic entrance to the backyard begins with contemporary Dynasty slate slabs (40 by 61 cm) and dimensional stone steps from the Irregular Step line by Barkman are punctuated by the addition of granite boulders.
Across the street at another project designed by Netley Creek Landscaping, granite steps lead to a sunken patio with a natural gas fire pit. Tall trees create a woodland effect.
At another Netley Creek project, an inset pond surrounded by boulders and rocks of varying sizes directly adjacent to a contemporary home appears almost one with the house, reflecting the remainder of the landscape awaiting completion.
Paul Van Gils, owner of Van Gils Landscape Design, says boulders have a timeless quality.
Van Gils and his wife Lynne like to go sailing at the Lake of the Woods. Van Gils likes the ruggedness, fluidity and lack of straight lines in the natural setting and this is what he likes to emulate in residential home design.
In a small front yard consisting of a straight line to the front door, Van Gils said breaking up the linear concept by partly obscuring sight lines into the property is a fascinating, psychological characteristic boulders can introduce into the landscape.
Van Gils has a preference for red granite. In his own lawn-free residential landscape a massive red granite boulder and the curved lines of brick retaining walls on either side of the driveway add both texture and height. From a practical point of view the curved raised bed also serves as a creative solution to a steep grade, so common in many of today's residential landscapes with drainage swales in the narrow space between properties.
Mindful of the compressed transition in a small landscape from the driveway to the house, Van Gils softens the lines further with a linden tree and Karl Foerster ornamental grasses.
The Van Gils' average sized backyard measures 12 by 15 metres and yet appears significantly larger. Visitors are greeted by the sounds of trickling water. Planting beds are arranged along the perimeter of the property, framing an elegant terrace. Two large retaining walls in Roman Pisa Autumn Blend weathered stone, one teardrop shaped and the other kidney-shaped, are accented by imposing red granite boulders that have been incorporated into the front of the retaining walls.
Van Gils handpicked the boulders for his landscape over a two year period. The boulders at the front of the retaining walls were originally part of one massive boulder. The wide grey vein near the base of each boulder lines up with the other.
For added detail, the paving stone that edges each retaining wall follows the contours of the boulders which flare outward. The fluidity of the curved retaining walls invites visitors to walk around, says Van Gils. The large flat surface on top of the retaining walls does double duty as seating. Plantings include Incrediball hydrangea, Gazania Daybreak Pink Shades, Diablo ninebark tree form, and an Amur Maple.
Van Gils has arranged the placement of the retaining walls so they don't obstruct the view of the pond from the house. Situated in the corner of the property, the pond serves as a central focal point.
The vertical column of large rocks is made all the more beautiful as water spills downwards, highlighting the colour variations and patterns in the rock. A Silver Cloud Maple tree behind the pond provides dappled light. Other plants include a double flowering plum and purple fountain grass.
If you would like to add boulders to your landscape, be sure to factor in the cost of transportation as it will cost much more than the boulder itself.
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