Feng Shui Gardens
Goal of a Feng
Shui Garden
A Feng Shui garden should
mimic nature as Mother Nature created it. It should
provide a pleasing and harmonious space for relaxation
and enjoyment.
Characteristics of a Feng Shui Garden
A Feng Shui garden respects
natural contours of the land and, in this way, the
chi or energy of the land is preserved in its natural
state.
A well designed Feng Shui garden delights and
surprises with contrast and drama. The garden tells
an unfolding story, and is filled with surprises and
unexpected features and textures. The finished garden
is a mixture of, movement and stillness, of the ordinary
with the exotic, of foliage with flowers.
Elements
of an Ideal Feng Shui Garden
- Formal entrance
- Curved or meandering paths
- Introduction of water (fish
pond, bird bath or water feature). In Feng Shui,
water is the life giver and leads to prosperity.
Fish are prized and odd numbers are deemed more
fortunate. Bird baths not only attract birds,
but the birds eat the insects and bugs as well.
It is important that the water source is kept
clean.
- The
5 elements are usually represented in a Feng
Shui garden: wood – represented by plants;
fire – represented by lighting; earth – by
the soil or terracotta pots; metal – by
a metal sculpture or object and water – in
any of the forms mentioned above.
- Bright colored flowers are
often grouped together (reds, yellows, oranges
and whites) while the more pastel shades like
lavender and pink present a more pleasing picture.
- Broad leafed plants are popular
as these are more people friendly than, say,
cacti.
- Place for quiet relaxation
or meditation
- Larger plants or trees to
the back of the garden for privacy and protection.
- Incorporation of the 5 elements
(fire (lights), earth, metal, water and wood.
- Popular flowers include chrysanthemums,
magnolias, lilies, peonies and jasmine.
- You need to walk the garden
to experience it.
What does a
Feng Shui Garden look like?
Most
Feng Shui gardens have an entrance way “or
Ming Tang” often represented by an arbor or a
trellis.
Let’s imagine
entering a garden though an arbor and following a
stone path to a small pond filled with fish - here
we find a large flat stone used for quiet relaxation
or mediation. As your journey continues, the texture
of the path changes to fine white pebbles and you
are led to a large outcrop of colorful flowers (reds,
yellows and white) and just behind the flower bed
is a metal sculpture. The path takes you in another
direction to a herb garden and beyond that, there is
a scattering of lavender and pink flowers among some
tall grasses and other mixed foliage. Some lighting
has been incorporated into this area. To the back of
the garden is a large tree which provides privacy and
protection. Under the tree is hammock for reading and
as you lie in the hammock, you perceive the sound of
the gentle melody of a metal wind chime which has been
placed in the tree to stimulate Chi.
A
word of caution!
Most gardens
take up to 12 years to mature and avid
gardeners are often too anxious to wait for that
to happen, especially when our growing season
is so short. A Feng Shui garden will look “spacey” when
first planted, but will fill in gently
and naturally with each growing season. Should
the plants be planted too close together, the garden
will be crowded and “jungle – like” within
a few short years.
