Written By Alan Good
TRAVEL - With gas prices reduced somewhat but still high, travel for some may provide a challenge. But to others, respite could be as close as home. Your own backyard could be a sweet retreat.
It may seem trite, but with a few dollars, the space behind your house could become a quiet, peaceful, almost Zen, spot. Picture a Wren’s call, or Blue Jay’s demanding more peanuts that grandchildren place in a plate each day, raised for their benefit. How about chipmunk’s scampering for the seeds dropped by the morning doves, or flowers blooming after a thunderstorm, or even the anticipation of that storm.
“Traditionally, Zen gardens would contain some very specific elements such as rocks, sand, water, plants, and bridges but modern interpretations can go beyond tradition and focus on the intention of each element,” according to Melissa Reavis, a professional landscape architect and residential studio director at Hollander Design, in New York and Chicago.
From gravel gardens to floating decks, mazes rambling through bushes and ponds, your yard can be as grand as your space—and pocketbook—allow. If you require privacy, bamboo walls and pergolas can help. Colours that please the eye and create a peaceful palette are ideal. Choose plants and flowers where colours blend and stay away from bright, multi-coloured gardens, unless you prefer that and want to attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Finish this with low-glow lighting such as paper Chinese lanterns or small twinkle lights to provide a nighttime visual effect.
Live in an apartment or condo? Why not try a mini–Zen Garden. This is a version of the traditional Japanese meditative garden done in miniature and sized for your desktop or coffee table! Arrange the polished stones on white purified sand and use the two rakes to create patterns and set your mind free.
A corner of a room can be used for peaceful meditation. Some arranging of furniture, proper lighting, and even a small fountain, can provide a place for the brain to decompress after a long day.
Call it a Zen Garden or not, the intention is for relaxation, meditation and contemplation. A special place is given to every plant, rock and the sand in an effort to create harmony, tranquility and balance. By focusing on one of the items in your garden, even for a few minutes while breathing gently, can do wonders.
If you think you are “stuck” at home because of gas prices, consider changing your attitude to wanting to stay home and enjoying the moment through nature.
