There’s something very calming about visiting a botanical garden. Perhaps it’s being surrounded by foliage, or taking in the array of colors. Or maybe it’s just nice to be able to enjoy well-manicured and maintained nature where someone else did all the gardening and landscaping work. Whatever the reason, if you’re into botanical garden aesthetics, you’re not alone.
And if that’s the case, why not bring some of those elements and design strategies into your own home and garden? No, most people aren’t in a position to construct a Victorian-style domed glass greenhouse, but there are some more realistic features that you can incorporate into your own space. Here are a few to consider, courtesy of an article by Megan Slack for Homes & Gardens.
Incorporate more mirrors, both indoors and outdoors
You’re probably familiar with the classic design strategy of adding a large mirror to a room to make it seem bigger than it actually is. Well, some botanical gardens, like the one in New York City, place mirrors outdoors as well for a similar reason: to multiply the beauty of the flowers and plants, Slack explains.
You can achieve the same effect by placing a mirror behind (or under) some of your indoor house plants, or in different parts of your garden outside.
Work with what’s in season
Part of the magic of botanical gardens is that you can visit the same location multiple times a year, and it can look completely different, depending on the season. Everyone loves the spring blossoms and autumn leaves, but there’s something to be said for the summer shade and winter stillness. You can bring that into your home and garden by focusing on plants and flowers that are currently in season.
Consider adding a water feature
Nothing screams “botanical garden” like a babbling water feature surrounded by foliage. This is something you can create relatively easily in your garden at home. And no, you don’t need some expensive fountain with fake rocks: Even a large bowl filled with water can be a birdbath (just be sure to change the water regularly), and therefore a (basic) water feature.
