Hi lovelies,

For those of you blessed with a garden space, consider what you might need to do to enhance your relaxation time outdoors. 

By taking a few (reasonably) easy steps, you will be able to refresh your mind, soothe your soul, and de-stress your body during your time at home. What greater incentive do you need?

#1: Create your own private nook
If you live alone and your garden is already secluded, then that's perfect; you will have all of the privacy that you need. If that isn't the case, then you might want to add certain features to create your own enclosure. You can do this with bamboo fencing, pre-grown shrubs and bushes, or a privacy screen. Be sure to include comfortable outdoor seating too, as you will then have somewhere to sit and relax as you wile away your day. And place fragrant plants around your seated area to soothe yourself with aromatherapy, such as lavender, clematis, and the sweet smell of gardenia. Add a table for your books, magazines, and refreshments, and your relaxation zone will be almost complete. 

#2: Block out any nuisance sounds
Should you be living somewhere remote, then you might have all of the peace and quiet you could ever need when trying to relax in your garden. But if you're living within a busy neighborhood, then noise might be a problem for you. From the sound of traffic to the loud conversations of your neighbors, it might be difficult to get much peace at all. Therefore, find ways to block out these nuisance sounds.

One way to do this is to add bamboo or metal wind chimes around your enclosed area. They're easy to incorporate into your garden, as they can hang from any raised point, so you don't have to do a lot of maintenance to achieve a sense of tranquility. 

Another way to block out sounds is to add a water feature. You can do this by purchasing something at your local garden center, such as an ornamental feature that provides a waterfall or a fountain. Alternatively, consider installing a pond in your garden. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and you can add waterfalls and other features as suits your desires. Visit your local garden center, and check out ePumps for the Tsurumi 50PN2.4S and other pumps your pond will need. 

#3: Attract wildlife to your garden

Snow White attracted birds and butterflies to her windows through song, but as she is only a fairy tale character, you will need to do more than sing a tuneful melody if you want to benefit from the relaxing sights and sounds of nature's wildlife.

You can do this by planting bird feeders in your garden, as you will then have regular winged visitors to your garden when they know there is food waiting for them. And to attract butterflies and bees, and other insect wildlife, plant a few herbaceous plants around your garden area. You will benefit from the colors and fragrances of these plants as much as your insect friends do, so your opportunities for relaxation will be multiplied.

We all need to de-stress, and if you have managed to create a garden that will allow you to do so, you will have many opportunities to relax and unwind. So, follow our suggestions, and leave a comment if you have any other ideas for a relaxing garden area.

Photo credit for this collaborative post: (Pixabay CC0)