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such as brightly-colored chairs
or silly sculptures hidden among
the leaves. To honor the memory
of a loved one, plant their
favorite flowers, or a special
tree.
Think about any others who
will be using the retreat. Those
who are visually impaired will
appreciate a concentration of
scented plants. If someone
uses a wheelchair, make the
path smooth and easy to
navigate, and consider using
raised planting beds.
Many designers of garden
retreats firmly believe that
your sanctuary should have a
distinct entryway. If you
always stop to pause at this
same spot, picturing yourself
leaving your stress outside as
you go through, the ritual will
become automatic and a
sense of peace will begin to
heal your spirit as soon as you
step into the garden itself.
Once inside, there should be a
path to lead you to a bench or
other comfortable seat where
you can relax and gradually
merge with your surroundings.
Your sense of taste can be
satisfied with edible berries and
herbs. Nothing is sweeter than
just-picked fruit warmed by the
sun.
Herbs can also entice your
sense of smell as you brush
against them. Footsteps
release the fragrance of
creeping thyme planted along
garden pathways.
Every gardener knows the
pleasure of smelling damp
earth, especially after a spring
rainfall. All of your senses,
stimulated and working
together, will help you to become
aware of the many facets of
your sanctuary garden, and
make you feel a part of the
nature surrounding you.
Water is Critical
While the various elements of
your retreat will depend on your
preferences and the space that
you have available, you should
definitely include at least one
water feature. This might be a
bird bath, a small fountain, or
just a shallow bowl of water
near a bench which reflects the
clouds and colors of light.
Moving water is especially
effective. It is important for
wildlife, and adds a comforting
sound to the garden.
There are manufactured units
which produce ponds and
fountains of any size, or you
can create your own with just a
plastic liner or a combination of
containers and a recirculating
pump.
Even a bucket with a small
hole in the bottom, dripping into
a saucer below, will attract
wildlife and bring the music of
water to your retreat.
If your space is large enough,
consider scattering water
elements throughout the
garden. All creatures need
available water throughout the
year, and the more varied the
