Bring More Zen Into Your Life Imaginative Design Elements Blossom In A Backyard Garden Sanctuary

By Laura Goldstein

Behind a simple cedar fence in Vancouver’s Point Grey neighbourhood, is “ a secret garden, an oasis and a sanctuary for the creative spirit, ” confides the late Canadian architect, Arthur Erickson in a 1981 NFB documentary. He made his home there for over fifty years planting colourful rhododendrons and vivid azaleas amid canopies of tall grasses and dense blue bamboo. Douglas fir and apple trees dotted the 8,000-square-foot landscape. The large reflecting pool, a common water element found in many of his architectural designs, became a focal area in his own garden and where Erickson contemplated many of his most famous projects.  In celebration of the renowned architect’s 100-year-anniversary, The National Film Board of Canada has restored and re-released the short doc, Arthur Erickson. 

Most of us can only dream of such a Shangri-La, but whether you live on a sprawling property or only have access to a small balcony, you can incorporate imaginative elements to create your own backyard sanctuary.

“When we moved to Manila in the Philippines from Uganda as a little boy, what I remember is a very urban area and my grandfather growing everything in pots and I saw the care he was putting into watering and looking after his plants,” reminisces Vancouver landscape architect, Paul Sangha of Paul Sangha Creative. “ My maternal grandparents living in India had a lovely garden so I was influenced from both sides about living in nature within an urban environment.” 

Whether a large or small project Sangha likes to “ get into the mental space ” of his clients. “I think about what do I have to deal with to create privacy; is there a lot of wind? How much shade does the property get? Is there too much sun exposure – does the client even like sun? “ he ponders. “Sometimes they’ve never even had a garden before so it’s also an exploration for them too.”

An explosion of ideas and imaginative work-arounds developed during and after Covid and creating a calming garden sanctuary was a direct repercussion. “There was a monumental resurgence in the importance of gardens in people’s lives then,” Sangha affirms. “You could finally occupy a space, even on a small patio or balcony and not feel threatened. A big thing was people wanting to grow their own food whether in pots or gardens. I really feel that we grew up several generations at that time with people developing a respect for nature and in terms of awareness of the environment as a legacy for their children,” he adds.

“She was inside the wonderful garden, and she could come through the door under the ivy any time, and she felt as if she had found a world all her own.” from A Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Interestingly, when Sangha designs a garden he emphasizes the importance of fluidity of movement– “too many right angles bother people,” he explains.

Our emotional response to colours, textures, water and fragrance sets the stage for a garden sanctuary: from rejuvenating and restful to nostalgic and romantic (think of the key role gardens played in Jane Austin novels or the current TV series, Bridgerton.)

“Art and sculpture also play a big role in any garden and their positioning is of vital importance ,” says Sangha. “ Sometimes a small piece in a quiet corner can make a bigger statement than a large one. Some of our clients are already art collectors and we even design many pieces internally. We work with local artists and fabricators to commission pieces from award-winning artists like sculptor, Marie Khouri, and we get amazing Indigenous work through Douglas Reynolds Gallery. Their re-interpretation of history in their pieces is so inspiring for me. And of course lighting is so important. I see it as a whole canvas where an exciting new world opens up at night, ” he adds.

“I like to use a lot of water in my landscape designs whether large pools or Koi ponds. Water transcends every culture. But no rushing water as that creates anxiety, ” laughs Sangha .

Whether having your morning coffee on the balcony or entertaining friends for dinner in the garden, dining outside is one of the great pleasures of your own backyard sanctuary. Sangha suggests investing in good furniture pieces appropriate to our climate that allow for the air to pass through to prevent mildew like Dedon’s beautiful woven ‘Butterfly Collection’ by Papyon.

As new fashion and paint colours trend every year, so too, do garden styles. Trending in 2024 is the dramatic ‘Goth Garden ’ that evokes the Victorian era’s obsession with moody, overgrown greenery and crumbling statuary. That doesn’t mean you should rush out to plant poisonous Belladonna! You can use your own interpretation focusing on a profusion of deep purples like On the Edge Iris, black-burgundy Nasturtiums and chocolate scented Black Dahlias interspersed with beguiling, partially hidden stone angels and mythical creatures. Keep in mind that sustainable, eco-friendly plants that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies can never go out of style.

On a more intimate scale, mobiles, seashell collections and driftwood from your beach travels, lattice, screens and trellises for vertical gardening and living walls do double duty in small spaces. Cascading plants and flowers also add privacy and create a sense of mood. Water features such as a small trickling bird bath or hummingbird feeder, all induce contemplation and repose.

Large or small, when surrounded by such a calming sanctuary, you can roll out your yoga mat or meditate anywhere.

Arthur Erickson is available for free streaming on NFB.ca