Heaven is a Garden

A few years ago, I was reading a paper about how grasses ‘moved’ to music. Then shortly after, I read about the effects of harmonious sounds on plant growth.

Just using white summer bedding is very effective in such a large garden

Why do I mention this? Well a few weeks ago we were talking about Tesla and his discoveries. This led us to talking about vibrations, sound waves, force fields etc., Then a strange thing happened.

Ann and I, interviewed a wonderful lady landscape architect Jan Johnsen, about her new book “Heaven is a Garden”.

We talked a little about how at a very young age she discovered during a science fair competition – which against all the odds she won – the effects early morning birds singing have on plants.

The sound waves, which are similar to a violin stimulate a plant, to open its stomata taking in carbon-dioxide to help it grow quicker.

Jan has now written a new book called Heaven is a Garden. It’s a really fascinating and informative read. Jan has ‘connected’ the dots so as to speak. Between the natural world and our emotions. How the Four Winds are important when laying out a space, the careful use of curves, and my favorite Golden Rectangles and the Divine Proportion. – Phi is the mathematical proportion ( 1 : 1.618) we see in every natural form. Using this proportion ensures a sense of harmony in any outdoor space that contains it. I’ve always tried to use these proportions in my designs.

Jan then talks about Trees – natures rechargers as she puts it… The Celts shunnache, the Hindu tree devas, and Greek dryads are really references to light energy? The Chinese call this energy chi…the Japanese consider the health giving properties of trees the basis of a medical therapy called ‘ Forest bathing’, it helps reduce stress.

Jan then discusses the magnetic attraction in a Zen garden – rocks in these gardens reflect a deep understanding of the geomagnetic properties of stone and its impact on a place.

Finally the benefits of color in a garden.