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Introduction

The glory of the garden lies in more than meets the eye.

– Rudyard Kipling

Have you ever experienced a moment when the wafting fragrance of flower blossoms captured your attention and lifted you away? Or when the birdsong around you was louder than the chatter in your head? This exquisite moment of stillness is what I call “stop time,” and it can occur anywhere and any time: while basking in the warm morning sun, gardening, or even as you hurry to your car! At these times, you may have paused, breathed in the fragrant air, enjoyed the trilling of the birds and felt a connection, for that instant, to the green world around you.

The boxwood bordering this patio adds a feeling of enclosure. The artful bench in the background acts as a visual focal point.

What if you knew that you could experience moments like this for the asking – that you could create your own outdoor environment to encourage such deep connections, such restorative reveries? In my forty years of transforming ordinary, even nondescript, sites into compelling landscapes, I have seen how light, color and trickling waters can work together to offer respite from a busy world and make our hearts sing. Thomas Moore wrote of this power in The Re-enchantment of Everyday Life: “Today we look for healing and renewal in the offices of physicians and therapists, when we could be out looking for holy wells and enchanted groves that fortify the soul with their natural mysteries.” We may not all have holy wells at our disposal, but we can come close; we might even discover that when we plant trees with an awareness of their ancient purposes we are inviting an enchanted grove into our midst – a place that strengthens our wellbeing and inspires quiet reflection. A place that takes us outside of time.

The design ideas you will encounter in this book are a blend of modern and traditional practices, some that go back thousands of years. I have found that mixing contemporary taste with historic design approaches makes a garden more relaxing and encourages that magical “stop time” we all desire. It allows us to enter into an unhurried state of mind, no matter what is going on beyond our garden gate.

My fascination with plants began early in life, even though I grew up in the concrete environment of New York City apartments. In high school I won the Manhattan Science Fair with an experiment on the effect of sound on the growth of plants. My premise, those many years ago, was that high-pitched sounds help plants grow. It seemed slightly absurd then, but now, scientists have determined that the high frequency vibrations of birdsong help to open up the pores on plant leaves so that they absorb more nutrients and grow more rapidly. In effect, the sound of birdsong stimulates plants to grow faster!

As a college student I lived in Kyoto, Japan, and worked at a high-pressure architecture office in Osaka. On weekends, I would visit the famous Japanese gardens and it was there that I found my calling. As I walked the green, mossy pathways and breathed in the cedar-scented air, my mind would clear and I felt stress melt away. This experience opened my eyes to the restorative powers of serene gardens. I saw what sublime peace could be had even in a small garden within an urban environment. I subsequently went to work in a Japanese landscape architecture office and left to study landscape architecture at the University of Hawaii.

This mossy path symbolizes a journey and the forks in the road we all face.

Flower planters on steps add a colorful punch. The soft flowers against the stone are a lovely contrast. The wall light highlights the flowers at night.

My exposure to many cultures began a lifelong study of how our forebears interacted with Nature. I learned that the Celts and Japanese honored certain trees, that the Greeks used the golden ratio in their designs and that water in a garden lifts the spirits. In this book, I share these insights with you, and many more. I hope that it may prompt you to see the outdoors a little differently. For instance, once you know why east is considered auspicious in many traditions, you will never site a gate or a garden bed without this cardinal direction in mind!

Heaven is a Garden is an introduction to the key elements that make a landscape feel balanced and harmonious. Some of the elements are so much a part of our lives – like trees and rocks – that we may not have actually paid attention to them before, or realized what kind of subliminal effects they have on us. So, perhaps this book will serve as a re-introduction to some of the wonders that exist all around us in Nature, just waiting for our eyes to truly see them. To bring you from concept to application, I’ll be offering suggestions of specific practices and plants that I have found work well together to evoke a deep sense of serenity.

In these pages you will find chapters that explore each of these key landscaping elements:

• The Power of Place considers the ways terrain can be molded and accented to create sanctuary and meaning.

• Creating Music for the Eye shows how shape, line and proportion can unify a garden.

• Calling on the Trees addresses the enlivening influence of our arboreal friends by deciphering the language of the trees.

• The Magic of Water delves into water’s mystery and the many ways it enhances an outdoor environment.

• A Rock’s Resonance explores the powerfully evocative qualities of stone.

• Color – Nature’s Catalyst reveals the therapeutic effects of color and light in a garden design.

Many of the photographs in the book were taken in gardens I have designed. I have intentionally kept the text to a minimum to allow the photographs to speak for me as much as possible. I believe, as Shakespeare wrote, that we can “…find tongues in trees, books in running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything…” (As You Like It).

It is my hope that Heaven is a Garden will help you hear those sermons as well. Whether you are an individual intending to create a beautiful backyard garden, a landscape architect or designer wishing to expand your ideas for your clients, or someone who is just thinking about designing a dream garden, this book will give you insights to help you create a glorious outdoor space – perfect for inspiration and reflection.

The timeless appeal of dainty flowers against stone. A planting pocket within the wall is a good way to do this.