How to create a Serenity Garden

Whether you need an escape from daily hassles of life or simply an outlet to exercise your creative energy, a serenity garden will relax the mind, invigorate the body and restore the soul. Don't have a lot of space? Don't despair - an apartment balcony or postage-stamp garden can be easily transformed into your own personal retreat. All it takes is a desire to create a beautiful space and a few choice elements.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Define a garden space (a quiet area of your yard, balcony, patio or out-of-the-way side yard, preferably with a gate)
• Water feature (make your own for very little money)
• Fragrant plant material for your particular light requirements
• CD player or preferred music source
• Comfortable spot to sit

1. Your serenity garden space is now a blank canvas, ready for your artistic touch. Begin with the bones of your garden; where would you like to sit to enjoy your space? Place the important elements, such as the water feature and CD player where they will be enjoyed. If your private garden is on a patio, deck or balcony, choose a nice rug that feels good beneath bare feet to anchor and define your little retreat.
2. Decide what colors you would like to introduce to the garden. For example: fragrant pink jasmine climbing up a trellis with drifts of calming lavender, daisies and shrub roses dress up a sunny corner. And billowing white hydrangea, velvety princess flower, columbine and cala lilies thrive in dappled light. Aside from the plant’s particular light requirements, there’s really no right or wrong when it comes to filling up the garden – plant what makes you happy.
3. Plant some things in containers for visual interest, or if you’re planting a balcony or patio area, stagger the height of your containers using concrete blocks or bricks. Be creative, not only with the plants you select, but the way in which they’re displayed.
4. Set the stage with soft instrumental music. Choose music that is only played in your serenity garden (meaning don’t play it in the family car when you’re running kids to soccer practice or dance lessons) so you will associate it with your peaceful place.
5. Don’t forget the night: add tiki torches and candle light. For a simple, inexpensive solution to candle-light fill recycled jars half-way with sand or small decorative pebbles and place a small candle in the center. These can be scattered all around the garden for a romantic glow. The jars can also hang from a nearby fence or tree by attaching wire around the rim. Be sure branches are a safe distance from any flame.
6. I don’t allow questions or dilemmas of any kind in my garden space. My husband and kids know they must keep problems and “issues” outside of the garden gate.

Tips & Warnings

• When I wanted a simple, inexpensive solution to seating in my garden, I looked out in the yard and found 2 large tree stumps in our firewood pile. I quickly rolled them over to the garden, and with the addition of bar-stool cushions, they make a very comfortable seat in the garden to enjoy a glass of iced tea.