With the rising cost of gas, food and everything else, "Staycation" is quickly becoming the buzz word for Summer 2008.
A Staycation is defined as a vacation that is spent at one’s home enjoying all that home and one’s home environs have to offer.
And it doesn’t have to feel like you’re not getting away if you take the time to create your own backyard oasis.
For many of us, gardening provides an escape from the daily stresses in our lives. To make your garden even more of a retreat, you can create a backyard oasis within your garden – a place to get away from the rest of the world to read, sketch, cook-out, relax or just contemplate the beauty around you.
To create a backyard oasis, you don’t need a lot of space. In fact, the smaller and more intimate, the better. Even a tiny patio near your back door will work if it is shielded from neighbors or a view from the street.
My own oasis is just outside the sliding glass doors off our sunroom (which is an oasis in itself). It’s just a brick patio with a table, chairs and a couple of resin rockers.
Five years ago, it was the view from this patio/sunroom that served as the inspiration for the gardening paths and pond that now provide a great place to get away from it all.
Once you’ve decide on your oasis location, use the following suggestions to define a garden getaway that offers both comfort and privacy.
Add plants for privacy, especially ornamental grasses. They grow tall and provide a great natural privacy screen. Also add pots of plants. The colors and scents can provide relaxing stimulation.
If you really want to go all out, try adding shrubs or hedges. Although it might take a few years for everything to grow in. That's why I opt for the grasses, they grow fast and are virtually maintenance free. (It's really hard to kill grass.)
When it's time to select seating for your private space, it's all about comfort! That Parisian bistro chair may look charming, but if it isn't comfortable, you won't use it. How about a hammock? Nothing says relaxation more than that (as long as you can get in and out of it.) Swings and rockers also do a nice job of providing comfortable seating for your oasis.
And don't worry about making a big design statement -- if it makes you happy, it's perfect. So go out and create your backyard oasis, it'll make that staycation all the more enjoyable (and you won't have to use any gas to get there)!