Feng Shui of a Fall or Winter Garden

In this season of autumn we see our gardens in decline, grass going to seed, flowers brown and dropping their faces to the ground. The birds have left their nests, and the landscape begins to look a bit barren. We are being called to go indoors more. 

As we see the leaves littering the lawn, as we see the trees becoming bare, we can look at all of this as an internal process as well. 

For in each of us we experience seasons, the spring of our youth or the spring of morning, or the spring of a new chapter beginning, it is the feeling of falling in love. We experience summers, the prime of our lives, the abundance of our work, our family life, our lives in full bloom. Then comes that autumn of decline when we are middle aged, when we see a project coming to completion and the we are paid for that work, or we can and freeze the summer harvest knowing winter is coming, it is the paycheck at the end of hard toil, it is the rewards we receive in boundless way of all we have toiled with and for. Autumn is also the decline of a loved one’s health or the ending of a relationship. Then winter comes and we go within, we go indoors, we rest and nourish, we self-care and self-nurture as we rest and build strength for that next spring. The beauty of winter is the stillness and silence that opens up inspiration, new ideas, creates a blank canvas, and allows for us to wonder, dream, and set the seeds in order that we will plant when the ground is fertile and warm again. When we read the room, see the signs, and can feel the pulse of what season you are in, you will know what season is coming next.

Feng Shui offers us a way to work with the seasons of our gardens and lawns and property in a way that honors nature’s cycles, and also the elements at play depending on the directions. 

A yard facing North/ North East, North/ North West, North West/ West:

Elements of Water and Metal. 

Design/Furnishings/ Colors:

• Metal, wrought iron, painted navy blue, black, gray, or white. 
• Shapes are arced, circular, wavy, round
• Colors are navy blue, sky blue, cerulean, all those deep rich blue tones, cream, gray, black, and white.
• Flowers that bloom white or blue or deep purple, specific to the Metal directions is Rosemary, Peppermint, Lemon Balm, Lemon tree, or Cornflower, Jasmine, Mum, North East is pine, North is bamboo, daffodil, honeysuckle and chamomile. 
• A flag or streamer or windchime or Metal sculpture or Stone sculpture 
• A walkway that is undulating, curved
• Bird bath or bird feeder
• West = Roosters/ Chickens, North West = Dogs, North East = Cows, and North = Mice or Rats (who want that near their house!?). 

A yard facing West/ South West: 

Elements of Metal and Earth 

Design/Furnishings/ Colors:

• Metal, wrought iron, painted black, gray, or white. 
• Shapes are arced, circular, round and square
• Colors are ochre, yellow, brown, tan, cinnamon, cream, gray, black, and white.
• Flowers that bloom yellow or white, sunflowers, yellow or rust mums, yellow oleander, yarrow, goldenrod, or daffodils. . 
• Terracotta pots, ceramic, slate, rocks, or stones, stone or Metal sculpture 
• A walkway that is curved
• West = Roosters/ Chickens, South West = Sheep and Monkeys (metal jungle gym!!) 

A yard facing South West/ South or South  

Elements of Fire and Earth 

Design/Furnishings/ Colors:

• Stone, brick, rock, furniture painted red or yellow or brown
• Shapes are spiked, triangular, square 
• Colors are ochre, yellow, brown, tan, cinnamon, cream, watermelon, peach, terracotta, red, burgundy, rose, or bright fun patterns 
• Flowers that bloom yellow, pink, red, violet, sunflowers, yellow or rust mums, yellow oleander, yarrow, goldenrod, or daffodils, roses, begonia, red pepper, red clover, orange tree, 
• Terracotta pots, ceramic, slate, rocks, or stones, stone sculpture 
• A walkway that is angled (without sending a poison arrow towards the house. 
• South = Horses, South West = Sheep and Monkeys (wooden jungle gym!!) 

A yard facing South East/ South or East/ South East   

Elements of Fire and Wood 

Design/Furnishings/ Colors:

• Wood, furniture painted red or green
• Shapes are striped, rectangular 
• Colors are all shades of green, watermelon, red, burgundy, rose, or bright fun patterns 
• Flowers that bloom pink, red, violet, peony, orchid, iris, roses, begonia, 
• A walkway that is angled (without sending a poison arrow towards the house. 
• South = Horses, South East = Snake or Dragon and East = Rabbit