A gardener in south London has discovered a new appreciation for the interplay of light and shadow in their garden, inspired by the Japanese art of ikebana. The concept of ma, or negative space, is central to ikebana, referring to the pauses between stems and leaves that allow the eye to rest. This principle has been applied to the garden after the removal of a large buddleja shrub, which left a bare patch of wall that now serves as a stage for shadows cast by an elder tree.
The gardener notes that shadows and light have been vital to their growing spaces since moving to a flat backing onto woodland. In a previous south-facing garden, a brick wall acted as a sundial, with shadows shifting through the seasons. The recent change came after the buddleja was reduced to a stump, revealing a brick wall that now hosts elegant shadows from the elder tree, creating a dynamic display of light and foliage.
For those with less attractive garden features, such as ugly sheds or breeze blocks, planting species that cast interesting shadows can transform the space. Recommended plants include grasses, fennel, and other umbellifers, which have long stems and seedheads that catch the light. These plants also serve as good skeletons, holding their shape through winter and providing texture and movement in monochrome tones.
