A Deeper Place of Being

Design Tips for Creating Serenity in the Garden

I use grass steps often in design - they are an elegant solution and create music for the eye. photo - Jan Johnsen

Years back, I was interviewed by the wonderful organization, Nature Sacred, upon the publication of my book, 'Heaven is a Garden'. I edited it slightly for brevity:

‘Open Voices’ of Nature Sacred spoke with noted landscape designer, Jan Johnsen, about her passion for creating outdoor havens and about her book, Heaven Is a Garden – Designing Serene Outdoor Spaces for Inspiration and Reflection.

Jan Johnsen’s forty years of practice in landscape architecture has taught her that gardens not only delight but also impart a sense of well-being. Drawing on historical precedents from many cultures, her gardens are deeply nuanced, no matter the size.

Foamflowers and hay scented fern photo Jan Johnsen

Open Voices:  You describe your landscape design practice as serenity by design.  How did you come to understand the serene aspect of gardens and garden design?

I went to Japan as a college student in the 1970s and worked in an architecture office in Osaka. But I lived in Kyoto, the home of many legendary Japanese gardens.

The architecture office was very stressful and so, on the weekends, I would visit the gardens such as the Nanzen-ji or Kinkaku-ji. These visits opened my eyes to the power of gardens and how they alleviate stress.

Just breathing in the cedar-scented air and walking on those quiet mossy paths that are so familiar in Japanese gardens made me aware of a deeper place of being.  I could feel the stress drop off of me and, the longer I stayed in that environment, the happier I was; the calmer I was. 

I went on to work in a Japanese landscape architecture firm and then to the University of Hawaii to study landscape architecture. At school, we learned the functional things that you have to consider but not about imparting a state of mind. I knew I had to figure out how to create serenity through design and that has been a lifelong study.

The Power Spot

Open Voices: What are some of the design building blocks you use to promote a feeling of renewal and respite?

I place seats at a high point as an inviting destination

That’s the crux of my book, Heaven is a Garden.  I share various design techniques.

For example, I believe you can anoint an area in a property as a “power spot” — this is any place that you might find a little more interesting or compelling than the rest.  It can be a high spot or a shaded corner.  People ask me, “How do I know where it is?”  And I say, 'it’s any place that you deem noteworthy.  There is no right answer.'

It’s more of an intuitive feeling where you walk around and say “oh, I like the view here, I like the way the breeze hits me here, I like the shade from the tree here”.  So that’s something anyone can do - find the power spot.

Click here for Heaven is a Garden

The Prayer Tree

Open Voices:  Your book draws on ancient traditions - what is a tradition that inspires you?

The Wishing Tree at Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, MA photo - Jan Johnsen

I like the tradition of the prayer tree.  Long ago in Siberia they would hang bits of cloth on birch trees, and use them as prayers to the universe. The trees would act as emissaries and the messages would be transmitted through the tree itself.  They still do that today in Siberia and other countries.

At the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, they have a wishing tree and I talk about this in my book. They have little paper labels with strings and you write your wish on the label; it’s so lovely.

Lure of the Sheltered Corner

Open Voices:  What is the most common request you receive from homeowners looking to create a slice of heaven in their backyards?

To soften a tall wall, I planted a luscious backdrop of hydrangeas.

Everyone wants a quiet, beautiful sitting spot where they can relax. For that, I utilize something I call “The Lure of the Sheltered Corner.” This is a place you have your back protected with a view in front. It doesn’t have to be expansive, just something to look at. It’s the secure feeling of being protected from behind by a low wall or by some shrubs, a tree, or fence which appeals to everyone.

A Rock’s Resonance

Open Voices:  What do you notice happens to those who make an effort for creating “serenity in the garden”?

They connect to nature better and have deeper appreciation of the power of place.

For example, I talk about a rock’s resonance. Most people don’t appreciate rocks but in fact, large boulders are our memory keepers. They were here before we got here and they’ll be here when we leave. They’re the quiet, eternal ones.

If people start to see rocks as something special, I think we will savor our gardens and cherish our community spaces more. Maybe municipal managers will look on public spaces and parks differently too and join us!