Dirt Divas

July 29, 2007

By Sally Koppenberg

The origins of Feng shui (pronounced &#8220fung shway”) go back at least 4,000 years in Chinese history.

Its foundation was the understanding that our surroundings exert a powerful influence upon the well-being of our lives. It tries to balance nature and ourselves so that we may live in harmony in our environment. Feng shui literally means wind and water. In traditional Chinese beliefs, wind and water are the source of all life energy, which brings abundance into our lives. If these principles are put into garden design, they are said to put you at ease in your garden and make you feel at one with it.

Feng shui principles are based on direction: north, northeast, east, southeast, south southwest, west and northwest. To create a garden on these principles, you should start in the middle of your garden making a map that looks like an octagon with the perfect balance of life in the center. Each direction is believed to embrace specific concepts. The idea is to use elements in each part of the garden that are in harmony with its alignment and to avoid disharmonious elements.

North is said to embrace creativity, personal growth, new ideas, prospects, career, music and art. It is recommended to use water (ponds, streams, bubbling things), metal (art, metal sheds, iron steps), wavy and curvy shapes and to avoid stone, exposed earth, clay pots and troughs in this part of the garden.

Northeast is to be harmonious with knowledge, wisdom, meditation, reading and inner growth. To encourage these energies use earthy things such as the troughs, stone, rock gardens, statuaries, brick and flagstone. It is also said to be a good place for repairing equipment. Hmm, I'm not sure I fully get this one - maybe I need to re-read &#8220Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.” Not really aChinese, but perhaps it relates. At any rate, you are supposed to avoid the use of plants and trees here. Well, perhaps this will be your cobblestoned entrance with lovely metal art and stone benches.

Moving on to the east you need to embolden elements of new life and growth, rebirth and rejuvenation, family life, health and healing. To do this use wood, fruit trees, herbs, medicinal plants, play equipment and exercise areas, but avoid white flowers, metal and patio furniture. In the southeast where you are to embrace wealth, communication, material processions and abundance, the same elements are recommended except that you are encouraged to have great shows of flower plantings with color and to use columns and pillars.

Moving on to the South you will be thinking of opportunities, dreams, achievements, happiness, longevity and festivities. Use fire elements here (fire pits, barbecues, leaf burning), trees, hot colored flowers, pointed or triangular shapes, and by all means, avoid water!

The southwest of your garden will bring motherhood, romance, marriage, love and relationships. Do this with dining, team events and low flat surfaces. Here I start to get confused. Motherhood? Why not in the east with rebirth? You should not use furniture or gazebos, but you are to have dining and events? No fences, gates or green. More complications! Moving to the west you can encourage creativity for children, harvest, socializing and entertaining. So what about the dining in southwest? The art in the north? The family life in the east? I guess it's time to hire an expert. You are to convalesce here, sunbathe and use circular shapes and archways. Please avoid fire elements and red flowers.

Finally, the northwest. Here encourage trade, international travel, mentors, helpfulness, support and fatherhood. More confusion. If motherhood is to be achieved in the southwest and fatherhood in the northwest, perhaps feng shui gardens could be promoted for birth control? Really, that's a joke. I'm sure there's a reason for this. We'll have to check into it. In the mean time, continue to avoid fire and red here and continue to use circles and arches.

In feng shui gardening it is believed that when one of the areas of you garden is laid our wrong, the corresponding area in your life will have problems.

So, if you are having relationship troubles, check out the southwest part of your garden and give it some attention. While I don't personally adhere to these beliefs, I enjoy contemplating them. I think I'll just run out now, and make sure the southeast section of my garden that encourages wealth is not actually in the neighbor's backyard!

Sally Koppenberg is a garden and food designer and the owner of Stonehill Gardens, a nursery & nature conservatory specializing in Alaska grown trees, shrubs, perennials and native plants.