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As a relative newcomer to Vancouver Island, and the owner of a brand new home on a barren lot, I was thrilled to discover that everything from apples to zinnias grow here. I felt like an artist poised in front of a blank canvas!
When designing my landscaping I paid particular attention to my backyard because, according to the principles of Feng Shui, it represents the future. In Feng Shui, trees are considered to be ‘the lungs of the world’ because they take in carbon dioxide and return it to the atmosphere as oxygen. They also play an integral role in stabilizing the soil and keeping the water table balanced. Trees (and some plants) also hold special meaning and do more than enhance the landscape!
Although a solid cedar fence separates our flat back yard from the neighbour’s, I planted trees with the intention that they will provide strength and safety … the ‘mountain’ support that is an essential element of Feng Shui design.
Planting five trees across the back of a city lot is an ideal way to simulate missing support and raise the ch’i (energy) of the property. Considering that straight lines are not ‘natural’, I staggered my trees in a zigzag pattern. This also provides them room to grow and branch out, without risk of the canopies becoming intertwined. Having the branches touching is not a good idea … from both a Feng Shui and an arborists’ point of view!
I selected a Katsura tree – with coin-shaped leaves that range from green, to purple or gold depending on the season – for the Prosperity area of the Black Sect Tantric Buddhist (BTB) Feng Shui bagua and a beautiful red maple for the Fame sector. Considering that flowering trees represent abundance, a plum and an apple tree were added to the mix. For my fifth tree, I selected a hazelnut because they symbolize hidden wisdom and divination.
This winter – with my newly planted little trees to protect me – I planned the landscaping of my new yard to add more Feng Shui enhancements, adding more curvaceous lines, a water feature and other landscaping elements to create a garden that will lift my spirits, provide food (which represents abundance) and be a topic of conversation.
When designing my landscaping I paid particular attention to my backyard because, according to the principles of Feng Shui, it represents the future. In Feng Shui, trees are considered to be ‘the lungs of the world’ because they take in carbon dioxide and return it to the atmosphere as oxygen. They also play an integral role in stabilizing the soil and keeping the water table balanced. Trees (and some plants) also hold special meaning and do more than enhance the landscape!
Although a solid cedar fence separates our flat back yard from the neighbour’s, I planted trees with the intention that they will provide strength and safety … the ‘mountain’ support that is an essential element of Feng Shui design.
Planting five trees across the back of a city lot is an ideal way to simulate missing support and raise the ch’i (energy) of the property. Considering that straight lines are not ‘natural’, I staggered my trees in a zigzag pattern. This also provides them room to grow and branch out, without risk of the canopies becoming intertwined. Having the branches touching is not a good idea … from both a Feng Shui and an arborists’ point of view!
I selected a Katsura tree – with coin-shaped leaves that range from green, to purple or gold depending on the season – for the Prosperity area of the Black Sect Tantric Buddhist (BTB) Feng Shui bagua and a beautiful red maple for the Fame sector. Considering that flowering trees represent abundance, a plum and an apple tree were added to the mix. For my fifth tree, I selected a hazelnut because they symbolize hidden wisdom and divination.
This winter – with my newly planted little trees to protect me – I planned the landscaping of my new yard to add more Feng Shui enhancements, adding more curvaceous lines, a water feature and other landscaping elements to create a garden that will lift my spirits, provide food (which represents abundance) and be a topic of conversation.
Learn more about Feng Shui for the Garden at my March 23 workshop in Courtenay, BC!
Terri Perrin is a certified BTB Feng Shui Practitioner and an avid gardener. She lives in Comox and, after three decades of gardening in Alberta, is enjoying our growing seasons without the threat of hail damage. 250.218.4952 www.faoiFengshui.com
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