AUSTIN GANIM EVA CHIAMULERA

Austin Ganim Landscape Design

Acommon request from homeowners over the past few years has been to create private retreats, spaces to unwind and escape the stresses of everyday life. Inevitably, the request brings with it a discussion of what elements make a space a personal oasis. Each of us interprets a private retreat differently: Is it as simple as creating privacy with screening or a hedge? Perhaps, but more likely, what’s critical to the success of a space is determining which senses evoke the desired tranquility and escapism we seek. For some, it can be as simple as providing an element that creates white noise; for others, what’s needed is a calming visual effect; still others desire a vibrant and dynamic landscape filled with wildlife to watch.

Sounds and fragrances can transport us by evoking fond memories. Strategically arranging drifts of grasses or fine leafed trees in a manner that captures the breezes, the sound of wind rustling through leaves and subtle motions can lull one to sleep on hot summer day as we recall a beach vacation or a hilltop hike. If your property is not well situated to catch the breeze, bubblers and fountains can provide an alternative white noise to mask some of the ambient neighborhood sounds.

A landscape’s color palette can greatly impact how it is perceived. Gardens that incorporate predominantly blues, purples and whites are often perceived not only as a calming, but also as cooler, even in the blazing August sun. For some, monochromatic green-on-green landscapes, with minimal flowers and shades of green plantings focused on organization and foliage, can be quite soothing, as there is less to process with just textures and tones. Others may find this landscape too sterile and seek the vibrance of a more colorful environment. Plantings with lively drifts of red, yellow and oranges evoke the feelings of a late summer afternoon, when things seem to slow down and you can watch the butterflies migrate.

Perhaps the most desired landscapes are wildflower meadows. Indeed, some homeowners dream of having their own suburban meadow where they can immerse themselves in nature, spending hours identifying the many pollinators that visit their gardens, or searching for that elusive must-see songbird as it dines on seed heads. Meadows are constantly evolving as plants intermingle, one flower finishes blooming while another type be - gins, and spent blooms are allowed to go to seed, sometimes resulting in plants migrating over time. For some homeowners, this is part of the charm, creating a sense of discovery with each day’s changes. Others, however, find this ecosystem stress-inducing, perceiving its diversity and dynamic nature as chaotic, messy or unruly. And yet, their feelings for the individual plants may change if they were arranged in a more organized pattern.

A private oasis can be interpreted in many different ways. The key to creating a successful one is to first understand what emotions and senses trigger serenity and calm in the homeowner.

Resource:

Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC

Austin Ganim & Eva Chiamulera

320 Kings Hwy Cutoff Fairfield, CT 06824

203.333.2003

AustinGanimLandscapeDesign.com