The elements of landscaping are somewhat special here. Sun, moon, cloud and stars are unusually important. The sun, partially because of its seasonal rarity, is treasured, and outdoor activity spaces need to follow its path. Sunrise and sunset, and their shifts through the seasons, are visible, powerful, and to be lived close to. More uniquely, though, the silhouetting of trees lit though fog, the sparkle of raindrops on thousands of spruce needles at sunset, winter sun reflections off of the ocean, or wind-whipped spray tossing rainbow auras off of crashing waves, give this place an important part of its special magic.
Night is also important.
Without the glare of streetlights and city light, the nights are wonderfully dark. Moonrise and set, waves shimmering in the moonlight, tree limbs dark against soft moonlight and fog, and the ever-shifting embrace, haloing and release of moon and cloud make the night a vital part of landscaping. Sometimes clouds and fog are above us, sometimes below, and sometimes we are within their cushions streaming by with the wind. Sunlight breaking through stormclouds transforms ocean, sky, and land with blazing displays of light. Given these magic tools of landscaping, it is no wonder that traditional landscapes such as flowers pale in significance.