Creating a Sanctuary Garden

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Creating aSanctuary Garden

Therapeutic gardening is not a new concept,but it is becoming more widely accepted,

and there is a new understandingthat where you garden can be as important

as what you do there.

Sanctuary garden, retreat,soul garden, refuge: whateveryou choose to call them, theseprivate areas provide a chanceto meditate, relax, anddecompress, away from thesights and sounds of theeveryday world.

Not only are they becomingmore popular; some today wouldeven call them necessary.

Human beings havetraditionally maintained a closerelationship with the soil. Thecreation myths of mostsocieties and religionsencompass a belief thathumankind came originally fromthe earth.

According to the ancientGreeks, Prometheus shapedman from mud. In Hebrew,“Adam" means “born of theearth." Many native Americansportrayed man as coming fromdeep inside Mother Earth.

Gardening, whether forphysical or spiritualsustenance, is a pastime as oldas history itself. Many religioustraditions used a gardensetting to represent both thebeginning and end of life.

According to Chuck andBarbara Crandall, authors ofCreating Privacy in the Garden,“Our passion for private gardenretreats is as old as civilizationitself, stretching back acrossthe millennia to the earliestvestiges of Pharaonic Egypt."

Depending on your source, theEnglish word “paradise" comesfrom the Persian word for“beautiful fenced-in garden" orfrom the Greek wordparadeisos, meaning “enclosedpark."

Murals from ancient Egyptdepict walled gardens, andmedieval religious groups areknown to have grown their food

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Some gardeners seemunable to fully enjoy their

gardens, so caught upare they in the latest

skirmish with mildew orbeetle...

My philosophy is: Forgetwinning, cultivate delight.

– Diane AckermanCultivating Delight

behind walls to isolate themonks from the distractions ofthe outside world.

With the rise of cities, even inancient times, this closeness tothe soil began to fade.

In modern days, rather thanseeing ourselves as “stewards"or caretakers of the earth,nature became something whichneeded to be controlled andmanaged to our own advantage,

and we were more likely to viewit from a distance, bothphysically and mentally.

Today, the pendulum isgradually swinging back. Theintensity of modern life and thepace of technology, particularlyin America, is forcing us to re-evaluate our lives.

As Donald Norfolk writes inThe Soul Garden, “People needgardens today more than everbefore. In an increasinglyfrenetic age they offer a vitalsource of comfort and anopportunity for mental,physical, and spiritual renewal."

He goes on to say, “As a racewe have inhabited planet earthfor at least two million years.For 99 percent of this time weled a nomadic existence. It is

only in the last ten thousandyears that we have masteredthe art of farming and learnedto live in towns. This is a mereblink in the annals of recordedtime. Deep down we still feeldisplaced, and yearn to regaincontact with our pastoralroots."

Not only arewe displaced,but so iswildlife, andwildlife doesn’thave the sameresources thatwe do to helpthem adapt.Food is rarelylimited or evenseasonal forus, since wecan buyproducts fromaround theworld in ourlocalsupermarket.

Drinkingwater is soplentiful thatit comes inflavors! If we

have less open space forshelter or raising a family, webuild taller buildings. For all ourneeds, we have options notavailable to other species.



To re-establish true harmonywith the earth, a sanctuarygarden should also be awelcoming place for wildlife.Sometimes this calls for a bitof compromise, but the trade-offs are worth it. By not usingany herbicides or pesticides,you agree to accept a fewmunched leaves in exchange forbutterflies and other beneficialinsects.

When you choose native

plants over alien species, youagree to surround yourself witha different, although equallybeautiful, palette of texture andcolor in exchange for birds whicheat the seeds and berries. Thetrue beauty of working with

nature, instead of trying tocontrol it, is that there are nolosers.

There can be no specificdirections on how to build asanctuary garden, because thedesign, and even the process ofcreation, will be different forevery gardener, as well as forevery site.

Thus, every sanctuary gardenis unique, although it willgenerally incorporate certainbasic elements. It will naturallybe suited to the space available,but it should also be verypersonal, reflecting individualpreferences and needs.

Creating Your SanctuaryDeciding where to locate your

sanctuary is the first step increating your garden.

It need not be large, but thearea should lend itself to beingsomewhat confined, whethervisually or physically.

Sometimes a narrow side yardcan be developed into a retreat.

Some people choose to buildwalls or fences within a largerarea, and these can both createprivacy and provide support totaller plants or climbing vines. Ifstructures are made ofmaterials like stone or wood,they will fit the natural feel ofthe garden.

Other gardeners prefer to use

plants, such as hedgerows orevergreens, to create theborders of their sanctuary andform a backdrop to shorterelements. Whatever you choose,the result should give you afeeling of safety and separationfrom outside pressures.

You might also be creatingthis garden with otherinspirations in mind. If you needmore lightness and humor inyour life, add touches of whimsy



such as brightly-colored chairsor silly sculptures hidden amongthe leaves. To honor the memoryof a loved one, plant theirfavorite flowers, or a specialtree.

Think about any others whowill be using the retreat. Thosewho are visually impaired willappreciate a concentration ofscented plants. If someoneuses a wheelchair, make thepath smooth and easy to

navigate, and consider usingraised planting beds.

Many designers of gardenretreats firmly believe thatyour sanctuary should have adistinct entryway. If youalways stop to pause at thissame spot, picturing yourselfleaving your stress outside asyou go through, the ritual willbecome automatic and asense of peace will begin toheal your spirit as soon as youstep into the garden itself.

Once inside, there should be apath to lead you to a bench orother comfortable seat whereyou can relax and graduallymerge with your surroundings.

Your sense of taste can besatisfied with edible berries andherbs. Nothing is sweeter thanjust-picked fruit warmed by thesun.

Herbs can also entice yoursense of smell as you brush

against them. Footstepsrelease the fragrance ofcreeping thyme planted alonggarden pathways.

Every gardener knows thepleasure of smelling dampearth, especially after a springrainfall. All of your senses,stimulated and workingtogether, will help you to becomeaware of the many facets ofyour sanctuary garden, andmake you feel a part of thenature surrounding you.

Water is CriticalWhile the various elements of

your retreat will depend on yourpreferences and the space thatyou have available, you shoulddefinitely include at least onewater feature. This might be abird bath, a small fountain, orjust a shallow bowl of waternear a bench which reflects theclouds and colors of light.

Moving water is especiallyeffective. It is important forwildlife, and adds a comfortingsound to the garden.

There are manufactured unitswhich produce ponds andfountains of any size, or youcan create your own with just aplastic liner or a combination ofcontainers and a recirculatingpump.

Even a bucket with a smallhole in the bottom, dripping intoa saucer below, will attractwildlife and bring the music ofwater to your retreat.

If your space is large enough,consider scattering waterelements throughout thegarden. All creatures needavailable water throughout theyear, and the more varied the



presentation, the more diverse

will be the wildlife that youattract.

Select Native PlantsPlants will probably make up

the largest part of your garden.Whenever possible, choosenative plants when making yourselections.

The native species will attractthe most wildlife, and will requirethe least care, because theyare genetically adapted to livein your environment.

By choosing native plants,you’ll also be helping to restorean ecological balance which isthreatened by development andalien species.

Wildlife depends on nativeplants for food and cover, andmay not be able to adapt tonon-native substitutes.

Mitchell also points out that“If every homeowner in thecountry gave only 1/10 of an

acre to a meadow, bog, marsh,prairie, field, or woodland, thenet gain would be anastonishing 3.8 million acres ofsanctuary."

Each sanctuary garden thatwe create is an opportunity toincrease habitat for nativeplants and animals, and they inturn will enhance our experienceof the garden.

When choosing plants, mimicnature by selecting a variety ofspecies, sizes, and types. Yourchoices can enhance thegarden, at the same time thatthey encourage wildlife to visit.

"The more time we spendin natural surroundings,the more we acquire the

attributes of nature. Ourlives take on the qualities

of our environment,becoming more ordered,stable, and harmonious."

– Donald NorfolkThe Soul Garden

"Water is a key tosanctuary. Its sacredinfluence over humanhistory is unmatched

among all other naturalforces....

Lose this vital force, andEarth becomes justanother barren rock

circling the sun."

– Christopher and Tricia McDowellThe Sanctuary Garden

"Plants are part of thefood chain for the insectsand animals that live in our

gardens....In deliberatelyproviding sanctuary for the

creatures around us, wemust also provide the plants

that wildlife know."

– Sherry MitchellCreating Sanctuary



Evergreens provide visualwinter interest and cover forwildlife, while deciduous speciesbring color to the garden inautumn and movement as theleaves fall, leaving barebranches as living sculptures.

Seedheads left in place afterflowers bloom will artfullycatch the snow while offeringnatural birdseed. Vines canprovide both cover and food,and their twisting stems add

sculptural details to a wall orarbor.

Build a Plant CommunityYour goal should be layers of

plant material, rising up from

perennials and grasses, intoshrubs and small trees, andfinally to taller trees.

You are striving to create aplant community, not a seriesof specimen plants.

Although economics mayrequire that you buy someplants when they’re relativelysmall, keep their mature heightin mind when placing them in thegarden.

Don’t neglect to plant largerspecies, even if it will be manyyears before they mature. Theywill be your legacy to futuregenerations.

With all of this concentration

on designing and maintaininga sanctuary, it is importantnot to lose sight of your mainobjective: to lessen stress.

If you enter your gardenretreat thinking only of the workthat needs to be done, then youwill have lost track of the mainreason for creating it.

While the garden work itself –the digging and weeding andwatering – can be part of therelaxation process, there alsoneeds to be time for idleness.

This is frequently a hardconcept for gardeners toembrace, and it is one of themain reasons that you shouldinclude a bench or other

comfortable seat, situated sothat you can easily view a focalpoint.

Particularly in our westernculture, we equate work withprofit and even with morality. Ina sanctuary garden, if youconstantly feel that you mustbe working, you’ve simplybrought the pressures of theoutside world in with you, andyou will be unable to loseyourself in those sights and

sounds of nature that you’veincorporated into your refuge.

Let Your Senses Absorb NatureWe humans have altered our

normal cycles with electricitythat lets us work in the dark,caffeine which wakes us up whenour bodies crave sleep, and atendency to even work hard atplanning and “enjoying" ourvacation time.

Our time in the garden shouldhave periods when we loseourselves in the tasks ofweeding and watering, but evenmore important are thoseperiods when we sit quietly andlet all of our senses absorb thenature surrounding us.

A sanctuary garden can helpus return to the normalpatterns of nature.

Frequently it’s people whoalready have a yard who startenvisioning a sanctuary garden,but those with less space – forinstance, apartment or condodwellers – are often the ones

Time in the garden –experiencing the moment,

the pause between thebreath; fully being in themoment; letting go offear, stress, and any

feeling of incompleteness– links us with eternity.

We can then appreciateand celebrate all that we

have by being trulypresent.

– Elizabeth MurrayCultivating Sacred Space



with the greatest need for aquiet retreat.

If your space is limited, youcan still create a sanctuary ona smaller scale. Lattice panelsor bamboo blinds form walls ona deck or patio, a smalltabletop fountain provideswater, and gentle wind chimesmask surrounding sounds.

Buy plants that providediversity: variegated leaves,

spiky foliage, different heights,lots of color. Flowers willattract butterflies andhummingbirds, and large potscan hold miniature trees orshrubs which bear fruit forbirds.

If you add a bird-houseappropriate for local species,you might have the thrill ofwatching new life born into yoursanctuary.

While a smaller-scale garden mightnot have room for awalking path, youcan arrange yourchair and plantings

so that your eyes travel alongcurved lines, stopping at smallsculptures or other focalpoints, delighting in the varietyof colors, shapes, and textures.

Be sure to include some herbsor other scented plants,perhaps just beside the doorwhere you will brush againstthem, creating an entrancedistinguished by scent insteadof a gate.

You might be able to add asmall arching arbor, with pots

at each side to hold vineswhich will cover the structure,adding interest and shade.

Candles and LightsIn the evening, if you don’t

have a view of the night sky,candles or small strings oflights can add a comfortingglow. The size of a sanctuarygarden is less importantthan the attitude that youbring to it, and your

willingness to let nature workits magic on you.



This article was written byMaryland Master Wildlife

Habitat NaturalistCathy Gilleland.

For more information or for thename of a Master Wildlife

Habitat Naturalist in your area,please contact:

WindStar Wildlife Institute

E-mail: [email protected]://www.windstar.org

WindStar Wildlife Institute is anational, non-profit

conservation organizationwhose mission is to helpindividuals and families

establish or improve the wildlifehabitat on their properties.

It is natural at this time to be focused on the horrendous eventsof September 11, 2001, but a wider perspective acknowledges thatcountless tragedies, both larger and smaller, have occurredthroughout human history.

In response, people everywhere, in every generation, have looked forsolace in natural surroundings, particularly in gardens.

The cycles of nature we see there remind us that life itself willcontinue, regardless of what we may have lost in the past, or whatfaces us in the future.

As you create and enjoy your own retreat, may you find healingand comfort and a deep acceptance of your own connection to theworld of nature.

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, orunhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they canbe quiet, alone with the heavens, nature, and God...

As long as this exists, and it certainly always will,I know that then there will always be comfort for every

sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And Ifirmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.

– Anne Frank


Creating a Sanctuary Garden

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