Life lived OUtside

There are so many reasons to garden, it can be hard to choose just one. You probably garden to relax, to unwind after long days back at the office. Or maybe you do it for the feeling of accomplishment. There is nothing like stepping back and looking at a newly planted tree and dreaming of picnics in the shade.

Or maybe you garden to indulge your senses. There truly is something for each and every one of your senses in the garden:

Sight - This is the easy one. Colorful flowers are a feast for the eyes. As we move into the summer months, pentas and salvia lead the way for their heat tolerance, love of sun and because they attract butterflies, which is of course another beautiful sight in the garden.

Smell - Gardenias, almond bush, jasmine, plumeria, allspice, lavender, citrus and herbs in all shapes and sizes make your garden smell amazing. A bouquet of gardenias and jasmine can add delightful fragrance inside for days, and of course every time you walk out in the garden you'll want to breathe in the amazing fragrance of the blooming flowers. Smell is one of those really deep-wired senses in our bodies as well. For me, the smell of citrus blossoms conjures up tons of great childhood memories. All from tiny flowers.

Sound – As the saying goes, stop and smell the roses, but do you ever stop and listen to your garden? Birds chirping, windchimes singing in the breeze, or a fountain with a tumble of water, the sounds of nature are another great reason to garden. And plants can provide it too. We just received a new shipment of bamboo, which not only makes a lush privacy hedge to block out pesky neighbors, but also adds a rush of sound when the wind blows the leaves, and on particularly breezy days, the dull echo of the canes clacking together is another way to find a little serenity through your senses.

Touch - Another overlooked sense in the garden is touch. It could be as simple as lying on your back in the grass and staring at the clouds in the sky, but touch and texture are the realm of plants too. One of our favorites is the sunshine mimosa, also called the sensitive plant. When you brush its leaves, they fold up hiding away from what they see as danger. And other plants too, have interesting textures. The velvety underside of magnolia leaves, the soft touch of silver licorice or the sharp (probably shouldn't touch) spines of cactus are all ways that touch enter into the garden.