We are welcoming today the first day of Spring. The season of hope, where just about everything is possible. So let’s welcome Spring with a loud Hello ! and get a head start on those projects we have been hatching all Winter long.

Assess The Outdoor Living Spaces.

Whether we are gifted with a living space right in our backyard or whether there is a public spot we call our very own, with HRM many public parks and green spaces we all have the ability to have a place outside of home that makes us feel good and connected to nature.

Now is the perfect moment to spend a little time walking the grounds of our heaven. Taking pictures, assessing light, ground conditions… Checking out what we have to work with, and without.

Plan The Dream Escape.

With this useful information on hands, we take a good old pencil and start putting on paper what we had envisioned. Sharing our ideas with the rest to broaden our horizon. Or keeping it to ourselves if this is something we would rather keep quiet until the reveal time.

Taking in all those thoughts we built over the last few months, it is now time to be practical and plan on how we can make our dream space happen.

Tackle The Logistics.

We set a thorough list of supplies needed, if any, and set a plan to tackle the work that has to be done to make the space just perfect.

At this stage, it is important to be hopeful but realistic. If the work involved implies heavy machinery, building permits or substantial financial investments and our wallet is not that healthy at the present time, or if we do not have much time on our hands to synchronize the project, then settling for a more humble approach will go a long way in avoiding deception at the end and will relieve pressure all along the elaboration of the said project.

Roll Up Your Sleeves And Get Dirty !

Even if it is still really early and we will probably get a couple more snow events before long, we can start cleaning up right away the area we will be improving. It will make for a lighter task later on when we are eager to get planting.

Removing dead branches, picking up items that had flown in during winter storms etc… Putting in the efforts will be key to truly connect with the space and make it reflect our personality. Even if we cannot do all the work on our own depending on the amount involved. But taking part in the process is important in the overall delivery of our dream space.

Plan For Better Accessibility.

Plan the space by keeping key concepts in mind and based on past experiences. Starting with accessibility. Putting the space into perspective within our lifestyle.

Was the outdoors space difficult to access after a heavy rain ? Think about creating a mineral path with slight elevation. Gravel, patio stones, poured concrete… Whatever will work best for the space and budget, so that the area can be fully enjoyed no matter what weather is in store. Was it inconvenient to come back inside with gardening tools and muddy boots ? Create an outdoors landing with a readily accessible hose and racks to accommodate all the attire. It will make for a smoother transition between the outdoors fun area and indoors. Was the patio too hot on sunny days ? Consider incorporating a built-in pergola or installing a roll out screen to create the perfect spot to soak in the fresh breeze on hot Summer days.

Think Durability.

Integrate more plants this year into the design and turn the outdoors into a sustainable wildlife heaven.

Choose perennials or self-sowing annuals that will basically have the same end results. This will account for less maintenance, less time and resources invested and therefore more hours on hand to fully enjoy the space. Introduce colorful flowers that will server double purpose. An eye candy for you and a substantial treat for our pollinators. Bring some shrubs and trees where possible for rain management and visual balance. Plan wisely : consider the proximity to erected structures and take into account the growth of the species over the years.

Bring In Mindfulness.

Introduce key elements to make the space a mindful escape. Consider a visit to your outdoors special place a journey to embark on. Include unique elements to connect with your environment.

Bring in a pond or a fountain for the ambiance. Even a bowl filled with water. Seriously. Even introduced scarcely, the element of water is beneficial to our well-being. Looking at a water body is lively, peaceful and greatly helps our balance and happiness. Have textured plants in a great variety of hues to extend the interest to the other seasons. And to look forward to the rebirth of various species at different times throughout the year. Space permitting, plant trees. Their benefits on the human mental wellness and our planet’s well-being is well proven and deserves to be promoted and enjoyed.

With warm days only beginning, we are way ahead of time to set up a successful garden escape. So let’s get started with enthusiasm and lots of bright ideas to welcome together the planting season with a loud Hello Spring !