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Serene Settings
A setting calls to you. It beckons from afar, luring
you in and, when you leave, making you eager to return. Find inner — and
outer — peace in your own backyard, with these tips on creating an evocative
environment that invites relaxation, conversation or admiration of the
best Mother Nature has to offer.
- A flower be-decked bower is an adult hideaway, a place to settle
in and smell the roses. Simply place an arbor facing a pretty view,
tuck a bench underneath, add comfy pillows and sweet-smelling vines
growing up and over to create a fragrant hideaway. (Ready-made arbors
are available at most home improvement or garden centers.)
- Entertaining friends lets them share the garden. A flagstone floor
and a vine-draped pergola make a simple footprint for a tranquil sitting
area. Dress an outdoor table in easy-care cottons, hang a candelabra
from the rafters and you have an intimate setting for dining al fresco.
- A winding path should lead somewhere special, like a garden getaway
for communing with the glory of nature. It can be as austere as a
grayed bench nestled picturesquely among the roses or a porch swing
hung from a tree — anywhere you can take time off from the hustle-bustle
of life.
- A deck doesn’t have to be attached to the house. Create a secret
garden room in a quiet corner of the yard. Plant foliage walls that
offer privacy without being obtrusive and create a low maintenance
floor by balancing wood planks on a bed of gravel. Add chaise lounges,
and it becomes a hidden nook for soaking up the sun or lingering over
cocktails and conversation.
- A setting doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated. A folding
chair tucked into a corner of a patio or balcony makes a secluded spot
for coffee and contemplation.A tiny table and a privacy screen of potted
bamboo make it a restful retreat for a party of one.
- A setting should bea sensory experience — fragrant flowers
to admire and smell, the rustle of leaves, the gurgle of a fountain
or the tinkle of wind chimes to tease the ear, a comfortable seat to
sink into and a table to hold a cup of tea or a twilight cocktail.
- Home comforts can make a setting more enjoyable. Snuggly throws or portable propane heaters take the chill out of the night air. A ceiling fan attached to an overhang or pergola helps you keep your cool. A fire pit or a mini refrigerator encourage camaraderie, while mood-making citronella candles help keep bugs away.
