コメント
The Contemplative Garden: A Place for Quiet Reflection
These 10 elements can bring a meditative quality to your garden
Laura Gaskill
2020年9月27日
Whether it’s with a simple stack of stones or a beautiful bowl of water, encouraging contemplation and serenity in the garden doesn’t have to be complicated. If you would love your outdoor space to be a calm, peaceful retreat, here are 10 easy places to begin.
1. Bowl of Water
A beautiful bowl filled with water and placed in the garden makes a tranquil touch (the birds will love it too). Add a few stones to the bottom, place a water plant inside or leave it clear and pure, like the one shown here. If you have mosquitoes in your area, it’s best to choose a fountain instead — mosquitoes tend to avoid running water.
A beautiful bowl filled with water and placed in the garden makes a tranquil touch (the birds will love it too). Add a few stones to the bottom, place a water plant inside or leave it clear and pure, like the one shown here. If you have mosquitoes in your area, it’s best to choose a fountain instead — mosquitoes tend to avoid running water.
2. Statuary
A special figure in the garden can be a wonderful prompt to ground and center yourself. Think carefully about placement: You can use the statue to bring attention to a special element in the garden, like a favorite tree or rock, or as the centerpiece of an outdoor meditation area.
A special figure in the garden can be a wonderful prompt to ground and center yourself. Think carefully about placement: You can use the statue to bring attention to a special element in the garden, like a favorite tree or rock, or as the centerpiece of an outdoor meditation area.
3. Contemplative Path
A gently winding path invites slowness and serenity, especially when you’ve planted delicate blooms and plants with soft, touchable foliage nearby where they can be appreciated. And while the river rock mosaic shown here is gorgeous, simple stepping stones, wood slices or pebbles would work as well.
Find a landscape designer in your area on Houzz
A gently winding path invites slowness and serenity, especially when you’ve planted delicate blooms and plants with soft, touchable foliage nearby where they can be appreciated. And while the river rock mosaic shown here is gorgeous, simple stepping stones, wood slices or pebbles would work as well.
Find a landscape designer in your area on Houzz
4. Flower Mandala
Creating one of these ephemeral works of art is not difficult (you can make it as simple or as complex as you like), and it’s a lovely way to unwind and meditate. You could create one as a decoration for a gathering in your backyard, or make a mandala of flowers and leaves as a personal meditative practice.
Creating one of these ephemeral works of art is not difficult (you can make it as simple or as complex as you like), and it’s a lovely way to unwind and meditate. You could create one as a decoration for a gathering in your backyard, or make a mandala of flowers and leaves as a personal meditative practice.
5. Hidden Art
Sculpture in the garden doesn’t always need to be obvious — why not tuck a piece of garden art into a less expected place instead? Here, a serene face surrounded by ground cover looks as if it’s growing right out of the ground. Positioning your garden art so that it’s intertwined or partially hidden by a natural element (flowers, vines, moss, leaves) makes it feel more a part of the garden.
Sculpture in the garden doesn’t always need to be obvious — why not tuck a piece of garden art into a less expected place instead? Here, a serene face surrounded by ground cover looks as if it’s growing right out of the ground. Positioning your garden art so that it’s intertwined or partially hidden by a natural element (flowers, vines, moss, leaves) makes it feel more a part of the garden.
6. Bonsai
Even the tiniest outdoor space can benefit from a beautiful bonsai or two. These miniature trees are carefully pruned and shaped to look just like the full-size versions out in nature, and make a splendid display on an outdoor table or shelf. Seek out knowledgeable staffers at a local nursery that specializes in this art. They should be able to help you select the right bonsai for your climate, and advise you on how to care for it.
Even the tiniest outdoor space can benefit from a beautiful bonsai or two. These miniature trees are carefully pruned and shaped to look just like the full-size versions out in nature, and make a splendid display on an outdoor table or shelf. Seek out knowledgeable staffers at a local nursery that specializes in this art. They should be able to help you select the right bonsai for your climate, and advise you on how to care for it.
7. Rock Cairn
Like a bit of DIY art for your garden, a cairn of stacked stones invites creativity into your landscape. To give your cairn visual weight and importance, start with a hefty rock as the base and stack gradually smaller stones on top. Position your cairn in a spot you’d like to draw the eye to, such as the end of a garden path.
Like a bit of DIY art for your garden, a cairn of stacked stones invites creativity into your landscape. To give your cairn visual weight and importance, start with a hefty rock as the base and stack gradually smaller stones on top. Position your cairn in a spot you’d like to draw the eye to, such as the end of a garden path.
8. Bell
The sound of a ceramic or metal bell or chime brings a feeling of serenity to the garden. Hang one from the eaves over your porch or from the branch of a tree farther out in the garden. If you meditate, pull up your cushion, and use the bell as a signal to begin and end your practice.
The sound of a ceramic or metal bell or chime brings a feeling of serenity to the garden. Hang one from the eaves over your porch or from the branch of a tree farther out in the garden. If you meditate, pull up your cushion, and use the bell as a signal to begin and end your practice.
9. Rain Chain
Transform the sound of falling rain into a musical burble with a rain chain. Used in place of a downspout and connected to the gutter of your home, a rain chain directs the flow of water running off your roof into a series of beautiful linked cups. To enhance your rain chain even more, consider adding pretty stones, river rocks or tumbled sea glass to the ground where the water will eventually flow.
Shop for rain chains on Houzz
Transform the sound of falling rain into a musical burble with a rain chain. Used in place of a downspout and connected to the gutter of your home, a rain chain directs the flow of water running off your roof into a series of beautiful linked cups. To enhance your rain chain even more, consider adding pretty stones, river rocks or tumbled sea glass to the ground where the water will eventually flow.
Shop for rain chains on Houzz
10. A Place to Be at Peace
Consider where in your garden feels the most private and peaceful, and put a seat there. Think of this as your place of peace — different from a social gathering spot, this is meant to be a solo retreat or a place for heartfelt one-on-one conversations. But even more important than the particular chair or location? That you actually devote time to using your outdoor space, reconnecting with nature, your breath and your heart’s desires.
Tell us: Do you have a special place for contemplation in your garden? Please share a photo in the Comments.
More on Houzz
How to Design a Healing Garden at Home
Read more landscape design guides
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for outdoor products
Consider where in your garden feels the most private and peaceful, and put a seat there. Think of this as your place of peace — different from a social gathering spot, this is meant to be a solo retreat or a place for heartfelt one-on-one conversations. But even more important than the particular chair or location? That you actually devote time to using your outdoor space, reconnecting with nature, your breath and your heart’s desires.
Tell us: Do you have a special place for contemplation in your garden? Please share a photo in the Comments.
More on Houzz
How to Design a Healing Garden at Home
Read more landscape design guides
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for outdoor products
おすすめの記事
エコ・サステナブル
世界の専門家が注目する、サステナブルな住まいづくりのかたちとは?
今後期待されるサステナブル=持続可能なソリューションとは?Houzzで活躍する世界の専門家に伺いました。
続きを読む
家づくりのヒント
建築家と家づくりをするメリットとは?
文/志田茂
「値段が高そう」「敷居が高い」……。建築家との家づくりは大変そうだと思っている人もいると思います。でも、唯一無二の理想の住まいを実現したいなら、建築家との家づくりはおすすめです。
続きを読む
小さな住まい
コンパクトリビングの賢いスペース活用法
コンパクトな空間は、ひとつひとつの要素が持つ「意味」が大切。スペースを最大限に生かしながら、快適に過ごせるテクニックと実例をご紹介しましょう。
続きを読む
キッチンの記事
プロに聞く、オーダーキッチンを作りたいなら知っておきたいこと
デザインと使い勝手がカスタマイズされたオンリーワンのオーダーキッチン。取り入れたいなら知っておくべきことを専門家に聞きました。
続きを読む
ライフスタイル
知っておきたい器づかいのコツ:料理をおいしく見せる器の色
文/進藤由美子
料理をおいしそうに見せる器って、どんな器でしょう? 家での食事をおいしく、楽しくする器の揃え方、使い方のコツを2回に分けてご紹介します。前編は、器の色について。
続きを読む
キッチンの記事
家事をストレスフリーに! キッチンカウンター下収納の使い方と収納アイデア
オープンタイプのキッチンが人気の今、キッチンカウンター下収納はその後の使いやすさを左右する重要な検討事項です。種類別カウンター下収納の特徴を参考に、家族が使いたくなるキッチンまわりをつくりましょう。
続きを読む
家づくりのヒント
心地よい住まいを実現するために、自分に問うべき質問とは?
インテリアのプロたちが依頼主に、最初に投げかける質問があります。それに対する自分の答えと向き合うことで、自分と住まいとの関係をよりよく変えていきましょう。
続きを読む
和室の記事
やさしい光を採り入れる「障子」の魅力
日本が誇る自然素材の美しきミニマルデザイン、障子は、私たちが考えている以上に幅広い応用力のある室内建具。この伝統の機能美を、改めて見直してみたいものです。
続きを読む
地域別特集
美しい伝統を守りながら、現代的技術で暮らしを快適に。京都に建つ14の住まい
文/藤間紗花
Houzzでみつけた、京都市内に建つ住まいの事例を、手がけた専門家の解説とともにご紹介します。
続きを読む