My Garden Paradise
In my mind, a garden is a sanctuary. The garden is a place where humans can escape the confines of civilized society without having to leave their personal property. We as creatures feel the urge to connect with Mother Nature because the environments we often live in are just that—confining. Gardens are places where people go to think, walk, play, work, and be alive in peace, away from the hustle bustle of society.
Think of a time when you had an important decision to make, needed to have a meaningful conversation with a loved one, or simply wanted to decompress after a long day. Where would you ideally do these things? In the musty, dark basement? In a crowded downtown pub? At the stuffy library? Of course not! I would argue that most people (weather permitting) would spend these special times in a garden if given the choice.
My ideal garden paradise would be topographically diverse, aesthetically entertaining, and spiritually calming. I would situate my garden on the top of a small mountain, surrounded by larger mountains on three sides. The fourth side would be an open view of the sea. This way, I could enjoy the snowy caps of the mountains in the backdrop and the crystal view of the water through the “picture window” of my garden.
Although I would be the king of my garden, I would not rule with an iron fist. Plants and animals would run the kingdom how they pleased. Tame deer would curiously approach and eat from your hand, and songbirds would cheerfully perch on your shoulder as you strolled the grounds.
Mountain streams would babble through the garden towards the ocean, but there would also be watersheds of cool, still water to swim in. Big weeping willows would hang out by the ponds, and grandfatherly oaks would have rope swings to make splashes in the placidness. Turtles and fish would surface from time to time to study the dry world above them before tucking back in to the blue depths.
Large pastures would remain dedicated to wild prairie grasses and alpine flowers where bees and bunnies could roam freely and munch tasty snacks. Evergreen trees would surround the fields to break the brisk mountain breezes and provide beauty against the white of snow in winter. Patches of birch, aspen, and maple trees would become a paint bucket of variety in the autumn to be admired from the hiking trails above.
Trails would lead up the slopes through the forest in all directions to scenic overlooks on elevated cliffs. A rocky labyrinth of paths would descend to the sandy beachfront below the garden, where many sunsets would be soaked up by viewers.
In the springtime, hanging water gardens would explode with exotic colors of the rainbow and encapsulate the centerpiece of the garden—an organic patio complete with lounging chairs, a wood-fired grill, and large tables.
This garden would be an ideal paradise to spend quality time alone or hosting friends and family. There would be no reason at all to leave. My perception of heaven closely matches my description of the ideal garden paradise.
-CM
