The garden is always there. You break your arm–struggle to keep up with work. But the garden is always there.
The headlines here still speak of the Boston Marathon bombings, a broken Congress, terrible hurricanes in the Midwest, floods, and general mayhem. Those thoughts whirling in my head–I realized I needed to take time to be “in” my garden rather than just enjoy its’ views from inside. So, early one morning last week on my way to a project installation of one of my designs, I took the time to visit my garden. The photos reveal the plantings that captured my attention that day. I marveled, enjoyed, and found a certain peace.
In the garden space I attuned myself by listening to the birds, smelling the sweet fragrances, by looking for the newly opened flowers. I let myself notice the colors and forms interacting with each other. Color from flowers or foliage, I was reminded, color draws me into the spaces. And once within the spaces, I experience the garden as a whole entity.
So as a designer, I know when I create landscape spaces–entry, back, entertaining, strolling– I will include a sequence of flowering trees, shrubs, perennials, ground-cover, vines, and annuals. Waves of color using foliage and flowers to create picturesque views. Hoping enchantment will result–the kind of enchantment that invites a stroll in the garden, to linger, to take that moment and let it influence the day.
I hope you take the time to treasure your garden in place today. I know it changed my outlook that day and looking at the photos now I feel the presence, peace, and contentment of the garden. Enjoy its’ antidote to the news!
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