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articles about and by Carol Olmstead
June 2014 -- "Feng Shui Garden Sanctuary"
Q: I just bought my first house and I finally have room to put in a small garden. I want to create a space to help me relax. Are there any Feng Shui recommendations?
A: No matter how much space you have available, you can create a Feng Shui garden sanctuary that will help you rest, relax, unwind, and nurture your spirit. Try to include representations of all Five Elements – Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood – to help your garden feel balanced. For example hot pink will fill your space with energy, red represents romance, yellow brightens your spirit, orange encourages conversation, white and soft green add peaceful energy, blue and lavender help you relax and restore your spirit. And be sure to create pathways through the garden that gently curve and meander, rather than straight paths that push the energy through your garden too quickly.
Here are some other Feng Shui ideas for your garden retreat:
Art. Include a focal point such as a sculpture, brightly painted art on a wall, a gazing globe, a pottery urn, a hand-painted chair, or a art piece made by a friend to personalize your garden space.
Fragrance. Plant highly fragrant plants and herbs, such as lemon scented geraniums, lavender, roses, jasmine, or catmint, either in the ground or in a special pot.
Furnishings. If you want solitude, add only one chair to your garden sanctuary, but if you want to attract company, include a table with chairs.
Screening. Borders and boundaries are an important part of using Feng Shui in landscaping to create a sense of enclosure for your garden sanctuary, especially a beautiful stone wall, hedge, fence, or vine covered area.
Water. Whether you add a simple, free-standing fountain or install a waterfall, the soft sound of gently bubbling water against rocks adds a soothing rhythm that helps you get away from it all.
Be sure you control clutter in your garden sanctuary, including deadheading plants when their blooms fade and removing dead plant material. Whenever you can, choose plants with soft and rounded leaves, rather than spiky plants like cactus.
A: No matter how much space you have available, you can create a Feng Shui garden sanctuary that will help you rest, relax, unwind, and nurture your spirit. Try to include representations of all Five Elements – Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood – to help your garden feel balanced. For example hot pink will fill your space with energy, red represents romance, yellow brightens your spirit, orange encourages conversation, white and soft green add peaceful energy, blue and lavender help you relax and restore your spirit. And be sure to create pathways through the garden that gently curve and meander, rather than straight paths that push the energy through your garden too quickly.
Here are some other Feng Shui ideas for your garden retreat:
Art. Include a focal point such as a sculpture, brightly painted art on a wall, a gazing globe, a pottery urn, a hand-painted chair, or a art piece made by a friend to personalize your garden space.
Fragrance. Plant highly fragrant plants and herbs, such as lemon scented geraniums, lavender, roses, jasmine, or catmint, either in the ground or in a special pot.
Furnishings. If you want solitude, add only one chair to your garden sanctuary, but if you want to attract company, include a table with chairs.
Screening. Borders and boundaries are an important part of using Feng Shui in landscaping to create a sense of enclosure for your garden sanctuary, especially a beautiful stone wall, hedge, fence, or vine covered area.
Water. Whether you add a simple, free-standing fountain or install a waterfall, the soft sound of gently bubbling water against rocks adds a soothing rhythm that helps you get away from it all.
Be sure you control clutter in your garden sanctuary, including deadheading plants when their blooms fade and removing dead plant material. Whenever you can, choose plants with soft and rounded leaves, rather than spiky plants like cactus.
