Green Fingers: Making use of your garden space
Your garden can be a haven where stress disappears.
It is an unfortunate fact that the sizes of back gardens are continually being reduced and in some cases they have disappeared altogether.
This situation has been enforced on many new homeowners. Conversely, it shows us the value of having some space for ourselves, wherever that is. Many will now have to redefine, adjust and tweak their lives to accommodate that change.
In my opinion, having some open space or garden is vital for our wellbeing and should serve a specific purpose in order to achieve the full advantage of the facility. This purpose can be broken down into four compartments, which are 1) change, 2) haven, 3) interest and 4) in tune.
It is a trendy comment to say that the garden is an extension of your home and this is commonly referred to as your ‘room outside’. All this is true but it must be much more than that; if it was considered just one of your rooms it would not be enticing enough to head out there.
I feel it needs to be designed and created so as to have a change from your normal routine of work and everyday activities. It should be the place to go after a heavy and tiring day, and if it is not, then think about changing that soon.
Part of your garden or open space can also be to the front but in reality that is not the place you would sit out and relax, as there is usually no privacy and you would feel a bit exposed, whether that was true or not.
It is in the back garden or other secluded area that you would feel safe and secure, and most people find that within a short time they are chilling out more and any stress disappears.
Some gardens contain a lot of hard landscaping, which translates into structures or areas made of concrete, wood, stone, gravel and other non-living materials. I am afraid that these leave me cold and are not in any way interesting in the long term. However, having a good proportion of plants incorporated into the design will immediately spark and stimulate interest. As plants are living things there is constant change and with it there is always something to look forward to.
Without thinking about it, many people experience a change inwardly when out and about in natural surroundings. That is experienced when by the sea, woods, rivers and mountains, among other areas. The reason is that by being exposed to the power of nature you have no control over how it affects you but find that it stimulates the brain and the whole body transforms with it.
The advantage of having green living plants in your garden is that the same effect can be had on your doorstep without the trouble of having to leave your home.
There were celebrations and an exhibition of one of the creators of Mount Congreve Gardens last week, which was of my grandfather Herman Dool. The gardens are a great asset to us all as a beautiful place to relax and enjoy and the magnolias are beginning to flower, so do visit soon.
If you have any queries or comments you are welcome to share them with me on 051-384273 or orchardstowngardencentre@hotmail.com and if of general interest I will include them in a future article.
