I found this quote by Brazilian landscape architect and artist, Roberto Burle Marx, and it reminded me of how much he inspired and shaped my design philosophy and opened my eyes to the creative potential of landscape architecture.
A garden is a complex of aesthetic and plastic intentions; and the plant is, to a landscape artist, not only a plant – rare, unusual, ordinary or doomed to disappearance – but it is also a color, a shape, a volume or an arabesque in itself.
With landscape plans like this
Landscape Design for Saenz Pena Square
And constructed landscapes that look like this
Vargem Grande – photograph http://www.mraggett.co.uk
Cavanellas Residence – photograph http://www.mraggett.co.uk
His words take on a new meaning and a reassuringly creative way for landscape architects to look at their horticultural palette.
Sam
drawnoutdoors 
Interesting design.