Garden Design IdeasGarden Ideas, Photos and Tips for Gardening at Home
Can a garden be a prescription for what ails you ? In many cases , the answer is “ yes . ” Experiencing the beauty and miracle of nature through the finish of plants is powerful practice of medicine that can bring around and revitalize both body and mind . While gardening for wellness is n’t a Modern conception , it has gained more recognition and popularity in recent class due to an increase cognisance of a garden ’s mental and physical wellness benefit .
Those benefits have been experienced first - handwriting by Amy Roberts , whose garden in Villaleigh , New Zealand , set about as a avocation then took on new significance after her boy ’s cancer diagnosing in 2014 . “ The garden and plant allowed me to obtain onto hope by observe new growth come forth , and it gave me a outer space where I could spend fourth dimension restoring the strength a parent needs when abide a child through handling , ” she tell .
Over the years , Roberts ’ garden has grown to reach three acres in sizing and includes a wide variety of annuals , perennial , shrubs , and trees set with the intent of make a place of beauty that nurtures everyone who know it . “ The garden continues to evolve as the works show me how and where they perform best . And for our family , it help us live in the present , capturing the magic of our surroundings and making us feel blessed for what we have , ” Roberts says . ( See more of her garden and storyhere . )
The summer abundance in Roberts ’ wellness garden is on full display along a path lead past a seat made out of repurposed timber . The way designedly sits lower than the garden bed , so visitors can become immersed in the serene surroundings . Photo by : Amy Roberts
WHAT IS A WELLNESS GARDEN?
A wellness garden ( sometimes called a healing garden or therapeutic garden ) is a thoughtfully design outdoor bema that promotes physical , emotional , and spiritual well - being . It provide a quad to disconnect from the stress of everyday life and reconnect with nature and yourself .
There are generally two types of wellness gardens :
Because both types of gardens incorporate many similar feature article , it ’s potential to create a health garden that is both revitalising and enabling . What ’s most of import is to include component in your wellness garden that bestow you joy and fit your own unparalleled therapeutic needs .
WHAT ARE THE COMMON ELEMENTS OF A WELLNESS GARDEN?
8 TIPS FOR DESIGNING A WELLNESS GARDEN
1 . put up spaces for reflection . For many people , the garden is a refuge from the outside world , a post where they can sit down , relax , and become immersed in the looker of nature . It might be aZen gardencomposed of sand and rocks , alabyrinth gardenfor meditative walk , or simply a quiet nook for reflexion .
To help create dedicated spaces for thoughtfulness and introspection , position benches or other well-to-do seats near focal points , such as body of water feature or garden - urge on prowess . add ghost anatomical structure like pergolas or arbors can heighten the comfort and usability of the space and make your health garden a welcoming retreat .
2 . Establish a sense of connection . Establishing a good sense of connection in a health garden involves creating an environment that boost interaction and a cryptic hamper with nature .
“ Our garden is surrounded by farmland and rolling hill , so the garden make the most of the borrowed landscape beyond our game by throw gaps between the trees that allow us to see and feel connected to our milieu , ” aver Roberts .
lease with the soil , plant , and the cadences of nature while gardening can also nurture a sensation of connection and advance mindfulness . Another manner to create a sense of harmony with the surrounding surroundings is to incorporate innate element in your garden like rocks , logs , piece of driftwood , and aboriginal works .
A meandering nerve pathway through the Roberts garden put up a glimpse of the rolling hills beyond . Photo by : Amy Roberts
3 . Create a journeying . Sometimes the journey in a health garden can be just as significant as the destination , creating the feeling of being carry to another spot .
further a sense of exploration and discovery by using meandering pathway to take visitant through the garden , add an air of mystery by creating intimate nooks or garden rooms along the direction . Also turn over the musical scale of garden pathways . A course that is too wide of the mark can overwhelm a infinite , while one that is too narrow may be less approachable and difficult to navigate .
Get more ideas fordesigning garden pathways .
Two Ginkgo tree lead the eye as you expect out from the front veranda of the Roberts house , with a path veering off to the right . “ I love to add some mystery and not give all the secrets of the garden away at once , ” says Roberts . picture by : Amy Roberts
4 . Appeal to all the senses . project a health garden that engages all the senses can leave in a richer , more immersive experience .
Plantaromatic herbsand extremely fragrant prime likelavender , star jasmine , androses , post them along tract or in other spotlight in the garden where their aroma can be fully delight . develop a symphony orchestra of soothing sounds by install a outflow or otherwater featureand by pay heed hint bell made from unlike material . integrated plants with a variety of texture , such as the fuzzy leaves oflamb ’s earand the roughbark of tree diagram . tally docile motion by plantingornamental grassesand other plant that swing gracefully in the breeze .
See otherideas for receptive elementsto let in in a wellness garden .
5 . prefer uplifting colors . In a health garden , people of color is more than just an aesthetic factor . It ’s also designed to affect people both physically and emotionally , eliciting feelings of excitement or instilling a sense of calmness . Cool , soothing colors such asblue , dark-green , and softpinkcan help reduce stress and anxiety by produce a tranquil environment . Bold , bright colors likeyellowandorangepromote notion of felicity and positivity , making the garden a elated , energetic place .
To avoid overwhelming or overstimulating the senses , see creating specific zona within your garden that use different color schema to arouse particular moods . Also incorporate a variety of works with different bloom time to ensure a uninterrupted showing of coloration throughout the seasons . Winter - blooming plantscan be particularly lift up by adding color to an otherwise drab landscape .
Roberts ’ garden is a riot of color in summer , live with a variety of Lord’s Day - have it off perennials such as blue sea holly ( Eryngium planum ) , speedwell ( Veronica spicata ) , snakeroot ( Eupatorium rugosm‘Chocolate ’ ) , and sandpaper vervain ( Verbena rigida ) . photograph by : Amy Roberts
6 . appeal good wildlife . study have shown that expend time in nature and mention wildlife can come down stress levels and ameliorate mood , contributing to overall mental well - being . By draw birds , butterfly , bees , and other wildlife to your health garden , you will not only make it a more active and enjoyable blank , you will also be affirm the local ecosystem .
cultivate a variety of native plants is one of the better ways to boost the biodiversity of a wellness garden because they ply food and habitat for regional wildlife , include pollinators like bees , butterflies , and hummingbird . But even something as simple as a birdbath can have a freehanded encroachment . Besides bring stunner , movement , and line to a garden , hoot play an significant role in source dispersal and lifelike pest ascendancy .
Get more tips forturning your garden into a wildlife sanctuary .
7 . make a gumption of order and harmony . Creating a mother wit of order and harmony in a wellness garden regard paying attention design and careful preparation to assure the space is both aesthetically pleasing and soothing .
A tumid part of Roberts ’ garden is devoted to the panoptic range of perennial she has collect over the eld , order in a manner that create a co-ordinated whole . “ I want visitors to the garden to see the plants growing in various combinations and how they all match together as part of the expectant pic , ” she say .
When design harmonious works arrangements , consider using symmetric planting patterns to make greater predictability . Repeating industrial plant species , soma , and gloss in the garden is another efficient way to establish persistence and further a sense of flow that Stephen Foster heedfulness and ease .
Get other ideas forhow to make a more peaceful garden layout .
8 . Embrace the health welfare of gardening . The physical crusade of creating and maintain a wellness garden has its own health welfare . Activities like digging , planting , weeding , and watering can all contribute to forcible fitness by improving cardiovascular wellness , increasing strong suit , and enhancing flexibility . The act of nurturing plant can also provide a common sense of achievement and intention .
“ In summertime , I ’m out in the garden first thing in the dawning , and am often still going by early evening . I have more vigour , and my temper is improved , ” enounce Suzannah Dolanc - Pugh , who discovered the healing powers of gardening when she begin know health issues in 2019 . The activeness of renovating her property in Springfield , Missouri ( see her gardenhere ) encourage mindfulness and being present in the moment , enhancing her overall well - being .
“ dig out in the shit helped readjust my brain , taking my mind off my wellness issues . Gardening got me outdoors and ease up me something else to concentrate on , ” she says .
THE HEALING POWER AND BENEFITS OF GARDENING
agree to many scientific field of study and reputable generator , include the Mayo Clinic and Harvard University , gardening offers a wide range of strong-arm and genial health benefit . These include :
