'Heaven is a Garden - Designing Serene Outdoor Spaces'


Heaven is a Garden 

Heaven is a Garden - Designing Serene Outdoor Spaces for Inspiration and Reflection
 taps ancient traditions and modern ideas to show you a new way to create a  place of peace and contentment outdoors.  


We all know that being outdoors in natural surroundings enhances our wellbeing – our blood pressure drops, our immunity is strengthened and our thoughts even seem to be clearer. 

 So how can we recreate this at home where we can enjoy Nature’s benefits easily?  

 I have ways been fascinated by the relationship between outdoor space and its effect upon our peace of mind.  This was the impetus for my book, ‘Heaven is a Garden-Designing Serene Outdoor Spaces for Inspiration and Reflection’(2014, St. Lynn’s Press).

We all head for the light - landscape by Jan Johnsen

In the book, I draw on my 40 years in the landscape design profession and share my  approach to creating inviting outdoor spaces. I explain 
  • how to find the 'power spot' in a landscape, 
  • how to use 'the most auspicious direction' in your garden 
  • which trees are best for adding certain qualities in a landscape.
  • why certain colors are better for a restful atmosphere
 I also share  how a sheltered corner and a curving flower bed can be used to create a special place where you can enjoy a moment of respite.


Here is a recent review of the book in the popular garden blog, The Garden Life (click on it):

 http://jennifersthegardenlife.blogspot.com/2014/08/heaven-is-garden-by-jan-johnsen.html


Read a wonderful interview about the book - 
click here (click on it):  NATURE SACRED  

Jan Johnsen landscape






Comments

  1. HoehoegrowFebruary 16, 2014 at 6:24 AM

    Looks like a very inspirational book , with fantastic photos too !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jan JohnsenFebruary 16, 2014 at 9:39 AM

      Thanks Jane! It has been a long time in coming. I think you, a great garden blogger, will enjoy it!

      Delete
  2. Terra March 6, 2014 at 12:46 PM

    How exciting to see your book in print any day now; I like the topic. I am looking for a publisher for my book which is about gardening and Scripture and will check out St. Lynn's Press.
    I would be happy to review it on Amazon and on my blog, if you are giving away review copies.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jan JohnsenMarch 7, 2014 at 10:06 AM

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 8, 2014 at 12:53 PM

    Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJune 1, 2017 at 3:14 AM

    You got a really useful blog I have been here reading for about an hour. I am a newbie and your success is very much an inspiration for me.

    spa in Dwarka, Body massage center in Dwarka, Body to body massage center in Uttam Nagar

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownJune 5, 2018 at 6:15 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownJune 5, 2018 at 6:17 AM

    Amazing!! Really it is an useful blog post. Thank you so much for sharing excellent post.
    Ronald Meason St Charles

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownJune 18, 2018 at 2:56 AM

    Great job! These are really very pleasing photos. Thanks for sharing such Nice ideas. Ashvin Ranpariya

    ReplyDelete
  9. MIchelleJuly 19, 2018 at 3:20 PM

    There's so much more health benefits to just being in your garden. I find it relieves my stress and does lower my blood pressure. Everyone should definitely get into gardening. Feel free to check out my website on it!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Hi there! I would love to hear from you....

Popular Posts of all Time

Angelface Blue and Dark Violet Angelonia - a Flower that Keeps Giving

Image
(Angelonia with Helichrysum, petunia, Johnsen Landscapes) Blue is everyone's "favorite color."  It is, hands down, the most popular color worldwide and is the least "gender specific" color, having equal appeal to both men and women. Now Purple is giving blue a run for its money as the second favorite color.... Blue is the favored color for toothbrushes, so that says it all!  ( this info is from a great website: Sensation Color ) but can purple be far behind? Scientists have found that the color blue causes the body to produce chemicals that are calming. This may be why we all like to be around blue....stare at this square and see if it calms you. In fact, over the past decade, scientists have reported the successful use of blue light in the treatment of psychological problems such as addictions, eating disorders, impotence, and depression. Moreover, a deep blue/purple such as Indigo or Deep Violet symbolizes mystical wisdom and spiritual insight. It incr
Read more

Planting Design for Dry Gardens by Olivier Filippi

Image
Do you garden in a dry area?  I love this teaching approach by Olivier Filippi. 1: Salvia chamaedryoides 2: Rhodanthemum hosmariense 3: Artemisia abrotanum 'Silver' 4: Phlomis 'The South' 5:  Senecio vira-vira 6: Salvia fruticosa 7: Salvia leucophylla 8: Artemisia lanata This photo and information is from a French website that I cannot translate into English. It is by the authority on dry gardens, Olivier Filippi, and is very good. Check it out:    http://www.jardin-sec.com/ Also he wrote a great book called 'Planting Design for Dry Gardens'.  Nigel Dunnett says,  "In  Planting Design for Dry Gardens  Olivier Filippi has charted a future for garden and planting Design. Combining authoritative practical advice with deep ecological insight, Olivier shows how learning from nature can give us the best of all worlds: beautiful and sustainable gardens with a unique sense of place. I challenge anyone
Read more

'Purple Smoke' - The best Baptisia

Image
Try  planting  Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'.  And pair it with Baptisia Cherries Jubilee. A deer resistant, native, drought tolerant, purple, long lived perennial! Wow! Photo - Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden - Puple Smoke Baptisia and Carolina Moonlight Baptisia It is a hybrid of  B. australis  and  B. alba and is a vigorous grower.   Discovered by Rob Gardener of the North Carolina Botanical Gardens, it has charcoal-gray stems and is purple.   Baptisia is a native perennial that has a long taproot, loves sunny sites with lean or poor soil. Average to dry soil is best.  Its deep tap root allows it to survive long dry periods, making it a challenge to move once it is established.  Purple Smoke from Bluestone Perennials The flowers resemble lupines and are smoky violet. Numerous flowers open first at the base of the flower stalk in May and ascend upwards, topping out at 4.5' tall. It has fine textured, blue-green foliage.  The flowe
Read more

No-Fail Tips for Turning Hydrangeas Blue!

Image
(photographer - unknown) Everyone wants Blue Hydrangeas.  The rarity of naturally blue flowers is an irresistible draw to gardeners.  How to Turn Your Hydrangeas Blue?  Here are a few tips from Proven Winners: Nikko Blue Hydrangea from Missouri Botanical garden 1. Be sure you’re working with the right kind of hydrangea.  You must have a Hydrangea macrophylla or H. serrata to have pink or blue flowers.  (photographer -unknown) 2. Aluminum availability determines flower color. The availability of aluminum makes the flowers turn blue. Without aluminum the blooms will be pink.  Soil pH must be low or acid (5.2-5.5) for the plant to absorb the aluminum. from nely.bluehortensia blogspot.com 3. Color changes need time to take effect.  Consistent treatment is necessary to  turn your hydrangeas blue:  Plant your hydrangeas in a phosphorous-free medium, and use a phosphorus-free fertilizer with lots of potassium (i.e. 25-5-30). PHOTO BY DEBOR
Read more

Repurposed and Recycled - Creative Ideas for Garden Design

Image
Nothing like piano keys to liven up a garden space....(above photo from Stone Art Blog) Recycling can be many things to many people... or, in other words,   " One man's trash is another's man treasure" from Stone Art Blog This piano was placed here in the garden. Here is what Sunny Wieler of Stone Art Blog wrote about this: "Besides being a passionate gardener, my dad is also a passionate piano player, so a few years back we got him a new piano for his birthday. So the old piano spent a while in the shed before he had the great idea to put it out in the garden..." Little did Sunny's dad know that he was at the forefront of the conceptual art movement:...they would say something like this is a testament to the natural decomposing processes, a statement of the fragility of life, the impermanence of existence... his dad would say, 'Hey, why not put it in the garden?" photos of broken concrete from Bourget Bros web
Read more

The Magnificent Purslane - Edible Landscaping at its best!

Image
What was one of Mahatma Gandhi's favorite foods?  and what did Henry Thoreau eat while residing at Walden Pond?  PURSLANE . Purslane, long considered an obnoxious weed in the U.S., is, in fact, full of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids!  And now this overlooked gem - considered 'one of the most nutritious greens in the world' -  is receiving the attention it is due. Usha Palaniswamy of the Department of Plant Science, University of Connecticut, reports that, "Purslane is receiving much attention for cultivation by the United States Department of Agriculture as part of their effort to bring about a modification in the western diet with increased intake of fresh fruits and vegetables." Purslane contains a high concentration of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), one of the highly sought-after Omega-3 fatty acids. It has several times the concentration of ALA than is found in spinach.  So throw away those fish oil capsules and grow your own Omega-3 fatty acids! It
Read more

My one day Class Wednesday April 16 in NY - Jan Johnsen

Image
I am teaching a one day class on Wednesday April 16 at the NY Botanical Garden  It is a fun, eye opening and fun class!            (class size is limited.) I  share my insights into landscape design and how to use various cultural and ancient traditions in a garden. I discuss how to use the compelling duality of Yin and Yang in a setting, explain how each of the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) affects us differently, which proportions create a more harmonious setting.  I also show how to place rocks in the landscape according to the Japanese understanding. Everyone loves this. and of course, I discuss Color and its effects on our wellbeing... I show 2 beautiful powerpoint to illustrate my talk..  Handouts reinforce the information I provide. Here is what students have written: No wonder you were instructor of the year! Your talk was delightful, Jan. You gave us all a thoughtful, colorful start to planting season. I have some great
Read more