Aug 3, 2024 10 min read Gardening

Garden Sanctuaries

This is the third of three posts that explore my love of gardening.

Sandra's previous garden sanctuary in Seattle. Summer 2023

Garden Sanctuaries restore our spirits, remind us of our connection to seasonal cycles, and encourage us to notice the small miracles of each day.

The word “sanctuary” is related to the Latin word “sanctus,” which suggests a private space specifically set aside for reflection—a refuge from the fast-paced activities of everyday life. Since developing my first garden decades ago, I’ve learned from experience that having access to even the smallest of garden spaces can provide immense benefits for our physical and psychological health.

Most cherished in this mundane world
is a place without traffic.
Truly in the midst of a city,
there can be mountain and forest.
— Wen Zhengming, Painter/Scholar, China, 16th Century

In the early 1970s I started gardening in earnest and soon discovered that long before I began to focus on the sanctuary aspects of this new path of inquiry, my attunement to what some would call the “invisible forces of nature” had already become activated. I often joked to my friends that planting seeds and watching them grow to wondrous maturity had introduced me to a more holistic educational approach than what I might have encountered in more academic botany courses.

I became an acolyte in the school of “everyday” gardening inspiration, which was accomplished by my own research, readings, and observations—all overseen by the innate intelligence of the earth itself.

One of the early applications of this intuitive form of gardening apprenticeship was the original Seattle backyard oasis I created in 2003, whose beauty and shelter I happily shared with birds, butterflies, and a variety of pollinating insects. That year, Birds Connect Seattle (formerly the Seattle Audubon Society) published an illustrated, educational handbook titled Gardening for Life, which included articles and photos of five unique gardens in King County that incorporated their vision. My garden was among their selections.

Photo os Sandra at left kneeling among poppies and lavender, with curving path in center — Sandra in her Seattle garden, 2003, featured in the article, "Finding Space for Wildlife in the City"

Photo of (clockwise): ladybug on white flower with orange stamen, chickadee on maple branch with red and orange leaves, monarch butterfly on orange and yellow flower, blue-winged humming bird with white chest — Visitors to my garden

My Northwest Flower and Garden Show Presentation

In 2006, the Northwest Flower and Garden Show included my illustrated digital presentation, Garden Sanctuaries for Reflection and Renewal, in their array of educational offerings. The presentation introduced audiences to timeless, holistic principles that have inspired nature-based artists throughout the world, and illustrated how these ideas could be applied in practical ways to create a personal garden sanctuary.

Painting of madrona tree branch, with bark peeling to show green cambium layer. — *Madrona Renewal*, by Sandra Dean

This Art Nun Journal post draws on the imagery and recommendations that were part of my Garden Show presentation, now updated with additional information from my background and experience as a visual artist and garden sanctuary advocate. In the galleries below, I offer several design ideas that I hope will spark your imagination.

Inviting Entries and Thresholds

A garden entry should encourage you to “leave the mundane world behind” and enter a quiet place of beauty and serenity.

Photo of stone arch with spiral-topped iron gate leading to a garden — A spiral wrought-iron wonder

Photo of a wooden pergola above a curving stone path, with tall green shrubs on either side — A soothing Asian-inspired pergola

Photo of stone-sided garden entrance with wooden lintel, with a metal sculpture of a tree of life in a blue-tiled-bordered gate — A Tree of Life opens to a quiet private space

Photo of stone-sided entrance to garden, with a gate made of dark and light brown branches — A rustic entry gate fashioned from re-purposed branches

Photo of a grass-thatched garden entry past a reflecting pool with paving stone bridge and shrubs on the sides — A grass-thatched entry past a reflecting pool with paving stone bridge

Photo of large curved space in white wall leading to a garden, with stone and grass mosaic patterns on the ground — A river stone mosaic courtyard opens to a secluded back garden via this spectacular entryway. Chinese Garden, Portland, Oregon.

Sheltering Permimeter Walls

If your garden space is flanked by distracting views or too-close neighbors, perimeter screening or walls can provide the privacy you need. The examples I’ve included creatively shift the definition of a “conventional” fence.

Photo of a bamboo screen with a a red Chinese umbrella atop a pole on the left, and a bench with a red cover in front — A privacy screen made of bamboo, a renewable eco-friendly building material

Photo of a bamboo frame with willow screening meets living bamboo spilling over the corner intersection. — A bamboo frame with willow screening meets living bamboo spilling over the corner intersection.

Photo of several panels of tempered glass frame by dark wook, behind a small gardem with red crocosmia and green plantings behind as stone Buddha statue, all facing a paved stone patio — Etched tempered-glass privacy panels set into substantial supports provide privacy, while allowing light into this sanctuary garden (Design by Queen Anne Gardens, Seattle)

Thoughtful Pathways

Pathways through your sanctuary garden should provide more than simply offering a purely utilitarian means of “transport” from a beginning point to the end—like a mini freeway. Straight line, uninterrupted, hard-surface pathways have their place for efficiency, but they are frequently overused and visually boring. “Thoughtful pathways”—most often curved and made of tactile materials—encourage you to slow down and savor the walk—as well as the nearby plantings.

Photo of a winding (L-R-L) gravel pathway, with with low green plantings to the left and orange flowers on the right — A simple winding gravel pathway with elegant accent plantings

On the steps are potted plants, and at the bottom a pathway goes off to the left — A variegated river stone mosaic landing steps down to a welcoming path

Photo of a bluestone path with concrete edges; on either side are green ferns and plantings — An inlaid bluestone pathway, bordered by concrete pavers and stones, combines efficiency with visual interest.

Photo of garde, with arbor to right, tree to left, and curved brick pathway around tree. — My previous Seattle sanctuary garden features a graceful, curved, used-brick “side path” around a camellia tree.

Intimate Seating

Seating options for a private place to rest and recharge come in various sizes and degrees of luxury. This tiny, low-cost outdoor respite from the Greek heat checks all the necessary boxes: a simple chair, gorgeous plantings of heirloom purple morning glories trained towards the adjacent balcony, and a nearby watering barrel (with removable lid) that also serves as tall potting table.

Photo of a small outdoor garden on a patio on the back side of a white village house. Purple bougainvillea and other flowers surround it and the white rain barrel to the right — A village retreat on the Island of Samos, Greece *(Sandra Dean)*

Photo of veranda with two round chairs with green cushions, a wooden bird cage hanging on the right, sculptures, and a lush garden in the background — A warm-climate veranda with comfortable seating, tropical plantings, and art.

THere is a bowl of red and yellow fruit on the seat, and green plantings with small red flowers on either side, with a thin tree trunk and a fence in the back — A cozy seat in the sun, made from used bricks and inlaid, colored tile remnants

Photo from above looking at three zebra chairs on a round stone patio, with a low metal table with coffee and fruit in front of one, a fountain to the left, and small red flowers and green plantings around the perimeter — A secluded seating area for calm and elegant hospitality (Queen Anne Gardens, Seattle)

Photo of backless bench covered with red cloth and colorful pillows, underneath a wooden bower with white and red flowers in the back — A flower-filled bower invites an afternoon nap

Photo of a blue tub on a stone riser, surrounded by elaborate plantings, with an iron table with purple towels at the head. — And finally, the ultimate in luxurious sanctuary “seating"

Four Elements to Enliven your Sanctuary

Trees, water, fragrance, and art provide important practical additions to any sanctuary garden plan. These elements combined can help transform your garden into a welcoming and inspiring “natural” art gallery.

Trees

Trees are an investment in the future, and a cause for celebration when they come into bloom. Trees should be first on the list when planning a garden, because they provide the “bones” for all future design considerations. After all, once planted, they are not easily moveable.

Consider planting at least one spectacular “specimen” flowering or fragrant tree on your property that can transform your outdoor environment from ordinary to magnificent. When I asked my previous arborist what tree he would recommend for my climate zone and property limits, he chose the Eastern Redbud.

Small tree with brillian mauve blossoms in front of a small house, with low green shrubs in front of it — A medium-size Eastern Redbud tree, hardy in planting zones 4-9

With a changing climate and more crowded urban environments, smaller native flowering trees that are adapted to local weather conditions have become even more necessary and popular. Since options range in the hundreds for different areas, before planting it’s always wise to first check with your local nursery or garden professional for detailed recommendations about what trees are best for your location.

Water

Water features in our gardens pay homage to the reality that without water’s presence, none of earth’s inhabitants could survive.

Beneficial insects, birds, and butterfly visitors to your garden will welcome the inclusion of water in your design. And closeness to water (in its many applications) is essential for calming our overstressed psyches. The survey of water features chosen for the following gallery range from the simple to the sophisticated.

Photo of small brown bowl with water and plants, underneath a green bush with white flowers — A simple water-filled bowl with aquatic plants

Small brown urn with fountain, surrounded by green plants and purple irises on left — A vessel bubble fountain provides the soothing sound of falling water.

Small stone containing water next to purple flowers and behind red Nicotiana and green plantings — A chiseled stone basin with flowering Nicotiana.

Round stone with Chinese characters, with square inset containing water and reflecting tree branches. — A small, cast-concrete reflecting basin, based on a Chinese coin design

Photo from above of wooden table and four chairs on brick patio with flower plantings spiraling in from left and right, and small square pool in back — A striking, contemporary garden design with still pool and steppingstones *(Javier Kwek, London)*

Fragrance

The human olfactory sense is the body’s most sensitive communication pathway to the brain and its information processing centers. It is a direct link to our memory center that regulates endocrine responses to smells—ether positive or negative. Since our everyday lives are often inundated with unwelcome fragrances (read “odors,”) such as auto exhaust, garbage, building materials, and paints, it is especially important to include fragrant and healing plants in your outdoor environment that can counteract the harmful effects of these pollutants.

The arbor and flowers are on a stone patio in front of two condo buildings. — Delicious fragrances are especially welcome near entrances or outdoor seating areas. This entry arbor includes yellow roses and lavender plants.

Photo of red and white daphne blossoms on green leaves — Daphne is a timeless fragrance plant that includes Spring or Summer blooming varieties.

Photo of three red-orange lilies. — For sunny areas, spot plantings of fragrant Stargazer or other Asian lilies are irresistibly intoxicating.

A wooden chair in the center next to a small tree is surrounded by low lavender plants, with lavender flowers and salmon blossoms to the left, all in front of a high shrub border — Lavender labyrinth with chair (Design by Sarah Nichols)

Photo of small coverd back deck with white table, Indonesian wooden screen on right deck railing, jasmine on the bottom right and front railing, looking out over a garden — The back deck of my previous Seattle home, with fragrant evergreen jasmine covering railings

Art

Subdued, artistic, outdoor accents that complement your plantings and add true beauty can make your sanctuary space feel even more restful. Some examples might include wind chimes or elegant outdoor lanterns. But resist the temptation to clutter up the serene atmosphere with artificial knickknacks that offer little visual value.

Photo of large grey beech tree with red leaves, and a white banner with Chinese writing — A Chinese calligraphy banner by artist Patty Ward honors a large, Heritage Copper Beech tree in Seattle’s Queen Anne Neighborhood.

Photo of purple wisteria on arbor in back, with multi-colored cloth leaves on cable in front — Handmade Shibori leaf banners by artist Karen Soma, nestled in fragrant wisteria.

Photo of small rectangular pool with round stones underneath green and red plants and a small metal pyramid — A small reflecting pool with aquatic plants features an installation of river stones accented with a gold glazed mini sculpture.

Copper birdbath with spiral tom and red flower in basin, hanging on tree limb above water — A handmade hanging copper birdbath awaits avian visitors.d

Closing Reflections

Many years ago, I received a beautiful card from a male gardening friend and artist, which included his handwritten inscription for me on the inside panel:

I make my living as a garden designer, but you understand that I'm really just planting little altars.

We both recognized that we shared the same gardening philosophy, inspired by our joint deep respect and reverence for the earth and her many gifts.

Red square image with four large copper-colored Hebrew letters in middle, and various animals, trees, and flowers — A page from an illuminated luxury prayerbook, “The Rothschild Miscellany,” which illustrates a vision of The Garden of Eden or paradise. The Hebrew letters spell the word “Blessed.” Florence, Italy, 15^th Century.

Photo of full earth taken from outer space, with clouds, water, and land — Earth from space

Image of circular mandal with orange and red outer rings, and blue center with orbit-like circles surrounding a orange, red, and yellow small concentric circles — A Tibetan mandala depicts the earth’s interconnected energy systems

Small light grey cast of Kwan Yin, holding a live white stargazer lily blossom, surrounded by small green plants — Kwan Yin, Buddhist goddess of mercy and compassion, “She who hears the cries of the earth.”

Multiple tall vertical white banners with Japanese characters, on side of a hill in front of entrance to a shrine — A display of honorific calligraphy banners at a Buddhist shrine below Hayakken Falls, Aichi prefecture, Japan.

Image of gold illuminated manuscript with flowers and insects surrounding a grey box of Latin script — A gold-leaf illumination of small garden miracles taken from a Book of Hours, Loire Valley, France, 15^th Century.

Painting of man with brown hair, white shirt, blue tie, and purple pants kneeling with right side to picture frame, planting a 3-leafed green plant on a small mound of dirt with a red trowel, with dark mountains, beige hills and white clouds in background — "Planting", artist unknown

Additional resource

Image of cover of Water Features for small gardens, with green water plants and irises in a paver covered pool, with a green urn in the back

Water Features for Small Gardens (download) by Ethne Clarke. From a formal fountain to a pebble pool, this book offers many varied designs and practical advice on building a water feature. The projects employ basic construction skills and offer designs which can be adapted to suit different gardens, with solutions for the problem of limited space. (Also available at Amazon.)