Reflections

Don't keep your personality trapped indoors - let the inner you redefine your backyard

By Patricia Rivera
CTW Features

Image courtesy istockphoto

The wise among us have said that gardens reflect our true personalities. That could explain why in her Alabama patio, Tara Simpson and her family often sit around a rustic chimenea, roasting marshmallows and enjoying warm conversations.

"I love camping. I wanted to bring that home with us," she says.

Small gardens, patios and decks can turn into magical spaces with just a little inspiration. Outdoor rooms can be created for every mood, season and budget. The possibilities range from a single hammock surrounded by a few palm trees on a patio, to a Zen garden with an elaborate design and flowing water.

In the busy lifestyle that most people experience, there is a need to create a space that brings balance to a fast-paced rhythm, says Marjolaine Arsenault, a garden consultant in Chestertown, N.Y.

"It is also a source of inspiration, where we can connect to our intuitive side and be open to creativity," she adds.

Simpson, who is also a customer service manager at the Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based OutdoorDecor Stores, says the best way to create a theme in an outdoor area is by starting with a focal point. In her case, she started with that small chimenea, and her husband later built a fire pit made out of rocks. Outdoor fireplaces have become more popular across the nation. When used with precaution, they offer a wonderful opportunity to bond with family while roasting marshmallows or hot dogs. A basic cast iron chimenea starts at around $300.

"We can enjoy the outdoors year round," says Simpson.

Cynthia S. Benoit, president of Benoit Exterior Design in Carlsbad, Calif., says gardens and patios offer an opportunity to enjoy relaxing activities. They're not just about growing flowers.

"The most frequent mistake I see in a small space is impulsive planting of trees or shrubs that outgrow the area and then have to be removed at a great expense," she says.

Think outside the box about how you'd really like to use the space. At the home of one of her clients, for instance, she created an intimate tea table.

Benoit used a metal gazebo as a focal point to achieve a feeling of intimacy in a rather vast lawn. She used a gazebo kit, pots with vines that climb up the gazebo, and then draped four mosquito nets she found at an international market for a dramatic effect. The furniture is metal and wicker to increase the romantic feeling. And as an added plus, the area has the ability to be easily relocated.

Take time to consider what items blend well together, Benoit adds. A theme that involves a flower garden, for instance, may require solid concrete with straight edges as a base, minimalist plantings with large pebbles as ground cover, contemporary shade structures like sails, metal clean-lined furniture and a geometric water fountain. The color palette would involve black, white, green and a cobalt blue or purple accent.

"If you know the basics, then you can find the materials that go together and be amazed where you can find things," Benoit says.

Arsenault enjoys creating labyrinths for her clients to provide them a peaceful place to walk and meditate. Labyrinths serve as a source of inspiration. They too can range from a simple one, created from a do-it-yourself template, to an intricate, more personal one.

"Creating a labyrinth in your own backyard invites you to take time to slow down whenever you wish. It also offer a place for gathering with friends and loved ones and to celebrate special moments or events," she says.

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