Designing a garden that will foster mindfulness
Words: Steve Warner
Gardens can heal the soul, which is why ‘therapeutic landscapes’ are increasing in popularity. When the design inclusions are deliberate — and this is where the research into wellbeing and mindfulness is so compelling – the outcomes can be remarkable.
Immerse yourself
For an outdoor space to be uniquely yours, it needs to include elements that reflect your individual personality and goals. For it to be therapeutic, in needs to be an immersive space you can experience. The space needs to transcend the everyday, creating an escape or an outlet for a passion. And you don’t need a quarter-acre block; you just need a space you connect to personally – a space in which you will safe and relaxed.
Let’s take a moment and consider elements you could connect with; ones that create a mindful approach to the here and now. This could be the introduction of natural materials, the sensitive selection of plants, or the inclusion of a water feature.
Practise mindfulness
You can achieve mindfulness in your own garden in various ways. You might rest upon a cushioned timber seat, feeling the sunshine on your face and the tactile timber under your fingers. Or you might experience seasonal change under a deciduous tree, watching autumn leaves become radiant in the sunlight and listening as they rustle in the wind.
Another option is to focus your gaze on the trickle of water down the side of a water feature or listen to water cascading from one level to another on a tiered fountain. You can also enjoy the way a calm breeze feels on your face or the scent of the flowers it carries.
Patch of paradise
All of this can be found in your own patch of paradise and a skilled landscape designer can deliver these in a purposeful yet natural manner. The world we live in sets high expectations, creating pressure and anxiety. We can’t always change that, but we can invest in a new outdoor space that helps regenerate the soul.
Steve Warner is an award-winning landscape designer and director of Sydney-based OUTHOUSE design.
