The chalet style is also called alpine, and this is no coincidence. It originated in the highlands on the border of France and Switzerland. Despite the fact that the architectural style of the chalet arose in the 18th century, this trend is still developing in modern landscape design.
Alpine style can not be applied everywhere. For example, in a lowland with flat terrain, creating a full-fledged mountain garden with all the desire will not work. The owners of the uneven terrain are extremely lucky!
Slopes and elevations, mountain streams and large boulders are all that is needed to create a chalet garden. The best part is that you can arrange this way even a small area of several hundred.
What you need to consider when creating an alpine style:
- The house should rise above the entire plot.
- High walls and partitions are not acceptable.
- Outbuildings are located in one zone close to each other.
- A natural or artificial pond must be present.
- Small architectural forms (pergolas, arbors) should be located near the house.
- Coniferous trees and shrubs, which tolerate climatic conditions and rocky soil, are mainly used to design rockeries. Exotic plants do not match this style.
- No plastic or chromed metal in the decor! Only natural materials such as wood and stone are used.
Armed with a camera, we begin our journey from a large house with a sloping roof, an attic and a terrace. The building is surrounded by tall trees and is located on a hill. Near the house under a wooden pergola we see a recreation area with barbecue and comfortable sofas. We go down the stairs to the platform where the fireplace, made of stone, is placed.
Narrow, winding paths diverge from the house with a thin cobweb, some of which are strewn with gravel, while others are laid out with flat stone slabs. Having walked a little down the path, we rest against a wooden arbor twined with girl's grapes. At the lower level of the plot you can see a small lake, to which, a small brook, rushing gaily, rushing.
Inspecting a gentle slope, you begin to notice some details that are organically entered by the designer into the natural landscape of the site. A large snag cozily perched next to the boulders, and over there you can see alpine hills and rockeries with conifers at a distance.
Having rounded a shady arbor with soft seats inside, we pass a little lower along a stone stepped path. But what is it? Somewhere in the distance, some kind of obscure muffled sound is heard. Hurry there!
Nevertheless, one cannot help admiring the mountain style of the chalet! Moving towards the sound that interests us, you involuntarily begin to look around and look closely at the design of the garden. Coniferous trees and shrubs grow on a large alpine hill, which we are passing right now: fir-trees with blue needles, fluffy creeping juniper and low thuja. Among the piles of stones you can see islands of thick moss and low bushes of alpine buttercup with small yellow and white flowers. And here is the fern with its spreading wai-leaves.
Passing to the other side of the slope, we notice a decorative composition with a long-forgotten broken trolley overgrown with bright wildflowers. Nearby lies an old wooden wheel.
When decorating the garden in the landscape style of the chalet, you can use cracked ceramic jugs lying on their sides. Next to such a broken vessel, flowers and herbs are planted. Broken clay pots, baskets and other things no longer needed in everyday life may well be useful for decorating an alpine garden.
So, we have almost come. Unclear noise is increasing. The path, strewn with large river pebbles, made a sharp turn and our eyes had a magnificent view! Sparkling in the sun, a waterfall cascades from the top of a stone ledge. An avalanche of clear water crashes down with a roar and crumbles with crystal splashes, forming a rainbow halo.
Of course, an experienced look can be seen by the inconspicuous intervention of landscape designers who graced the slopes on either side of the waterfall. Here you can find luxurious spirea, barberry, dwarf thuja, euonymus, Japanese quince, junipers of various species and other plants growing in this area. Despite the diversity of greenery, the alpine garden as if merges with nature and looks very harmonious.
By the way, any water sources are an integral part of the Alpine style, so such a wonderful gift from Mother Nature like this waterfall turned out to be truly priceless.
If you are not very lucky and there are no natural reservoirs in the area, do not worry! "Dry" streams, with bridges thrown over them, or small artificial ponds will correct the situation. In the pond, you can run floating figures of ducks or install a sculpture in the form of a crane or heron.
Returning to the house, we leave for a cozy recreation area and sit down in comfortable wicker chairs. We take out the camera and enjoy viewing the pictures taken on a walk.
The picturesque mountain garden in the chalet style does not require special care. Plants living in rocky soil do not need fertilizers, watering and transplants. And rockeries, alpine hills, reservoirs and compositions with decorative structures made of natural materials can decorate any landscape.
