When you sit back in your garden chair at your garden table, what comes to mind? Do you gaze out over your garden and admire all the hard work that has gone into it? Or do you try and avert your eyes because it doesn’t quite meet with your expectations?
Regardless of what your garden may look like at the moment, there is no doubt that you can do a lot in a short space of time to change things for the better. And you really can turn your garden into something that offers more than just a nice view too.
Consider what you can see when you are sitting at your garden table. If it is situated on a patio area you might be quite close to the house itself. That means there is plenty of opportunity to put some hanging baskets up outside. Try positioning one either side of the back door to create a nice symmetry.
You don’t have to be green fingered or know a lot about plants to do this either. You can cheat and buy them ready planted and ready to hang, or you can choose some plants from your local garden centre. It’s easy enough to ask for advice here, or you can choose from the small plants that come six or twelve to a pack, ready to take out and plant in the basket themselves.
When you are planting though, take care to choose plants and flowers which have an aroma as well as a nice appearance. This is one good way to turn your garden into a memorable experience.
You can take this idea further and create planters and troughs which are filled with all kinds of herbs too. One rub of the leaves as you pass and you will be able to smell them on your hands. They also let off their aroma after a passing shower – and of course you can put them to good use in your kitchen as well.
It helps to think of the senses as you begin to make subtle changes in your garden. You can see the bright colours you are beginning to add to your baskets and troughs, and you can smell their wonderful aroma. But you may also be able to hear taller plants and ferns rustling against each other in the breeze.
Touch is an obvious one, and we’ve mentioned that already with the herbs. The only one that remains is taste – and while that does come into play with a herb garden, you can also grow your own fruit and vegetables to taste. Patience and experience will pay dividends here, but it just goes to show how much the five senses can inspire you to improve the garden you already have.
The secret is to do things gradually so you don’t become overwhelmed by what you want to do. And who knows, the next time you sit down to eat at your garden table, you might just have an altogether different and more pleasant experience all round.