Relax A Bit. . .

I love this time of year. The air becomes crisp and the sun sets a bit earlier allowing me the pleasure of lighting the tiki torches in the yard and turning on the little outdoor lights that seem to twinkle as the branches sway in the canyon breeze.  One of my favorite sights is making the bend towards home and seeing the lights on the side of the house through the garden gate.  It beckons me to the backyard  and urges me to forget chores that need attention.  Often I ignore its pleading and tend to the children's homework and finishing up dinner dishes.  But most evenings I try to find a moment or two to spend out back listening to the soft flowing water in the fountains.  In years past my husband has told stories to the children as they stretched out on the trampoline looking at the stars.  The backyard is our haven and has been the place of barbecue's,  football dinners, teenage parties, sandcastles and beach ball volleyball.  It's a place made and remade and has provided an arena to teach the children how to work.  It's a place filled with hard work and laughter and most recently a place where my 13 year old plays with his dog.  (That throws a whole new twist on the expectations for the yard.)

  It's a great time of year.  The hard work of grooming the yard is over, it's the time to relax and enjoy your efforts.  Sit out back and look at the stars, lay in the hammock, play with the children or tell them a story as you gaze at the stars. Enjoy the haven you have created.

Mapping Sanctuary

While at the UNLA Green Conference earlier this January I attended a class taught by San Francisco artist and landscape designer Topher Delany. The class was entitled "Mapping Sanctuary". This title intrigued me and instead of attending a discussion on drought tolerant landscaping I curiously ventured into the discussion of sanctuary. Delaney taught the idea of sanctuary in outdoor spaces, and how these spaces can be found both publicly and privately. We discussed the concept that sanctuary is found where a geographic point intersects with any kind of cultural or spiritual values, creating a place of refuge and reflection. It was a somewhat mystical discussion, but I identified with the main idea. We grow gardens and landscapes to enjoy the beauty and refuge of the private space that they create. Other such places can be found anywhere in a natural environment, where the importance or level of beauty differs from person to person. In order to create {or add to} our own garden spaces its important to identify the aspects of outdoor spaces that add to reflection or refuge.

I always look for opportunities to expand my understanding of sanctuary and influence my design.  While in Spain last week I discovered such a place.  In the small village of Navajas, just outside of Valencia, there is a small spring hidden in the hills.  I was inspired by the sound of moving water, the texture of native grasses, and the warm, red earth tones.

Make your own garden more of a sanctuary by bringing a notebook with you to your favorite outdoor spaces.  Sketch or write down the hardscape and plant materials that are present there.  Pay attention to sounds and smells. Let the outdoor spaces you love inspire you and transform your garden into a place of refuge and reflection

Posted with Blogsy

Kate's Quotables