Welcome to this lovely, fresh new year. I trust our group had time to spend with friends and family over the holidays and has arrived in 2020 with a fresh outlook. But, even if not, I have an idea to lift the spirits: A Feng Shui Winter Garden. It's a great way to stay in touch with the outdoors even if you're mostly shut in over a long winter.
My first feng shui master, Nancilee Wydra, instructed us on how to build a feng shui winter garden. She does a wonderful job of describing this in her book entitled Feng Shui in the Garden and I highly recommend it for your reading list. She tells us that we first must acknowledge that the things we seem to miss the most in winter are natural sunlight and color. A feng shui winter garden helps remedy those absent things by encouraging us to get outside to put us back in touch with nature. This winter garden requires one to go outside because the center of the garden changes and needs attention. Yes, even if it's really cold.
Rule #1: The garden should be placed in the yard so that it is not seen from a window in a room where you spend lots of time. In other words, you don't want to see this garden continuously--it should be a bit of a surprise. One example is to locate it where it can be seen from a window that you pass by occasionally (e.g., window at the end of a hallway, window in a stairwell, or near a less frequently used entrance).
Rule #2: The edges of the garden should fill up the entire window from which it is viewed. In other words, if the window is the picture frame, the garden is the artwork placed within it.
Rule #3: The pathway to the garden should have defined edges (rocks, logs, juniper)
Rule #4: The beginning of the path should be easily accessible from an entry door so that you feel compelled to walk out to the garden often.
and finally,
Rule #5: The heart of the garden is the most fun part. Ideally, it's something that brings a sense of delight or humor and it can be changed when you want something new. For example, you might build a funny snowman here after each new snowfall. Or, you can place a bird feeder to draw in birds with their beautiful winter plumage. Change the birdseed often to draw in different types of birds. Any item with motion is also entertaining to the eye--a garden sculpture that has moving parts for instance. Whatever you place here should fill you with joy and surprise when you view it.
Getting outside, even when it’s freezing, goes a long way to lifting our spirits. Installing a winter garden is a wonderful way to entertain and engage us while the world recovers from its busy seasons and allows us to rest, and yes, even giggle. Thank you, Ms. Wydra, for showing us one way to make that happen.
Until next time,
Tracy
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Gazelle Feng Shui
Your Custom Text Here
