Having a beautifully landscaped yard and outdoor living area provides you will your own refuge for some quiet time to relax and enjoy being outdoors. But there are also many days when work, family commitments, and other responsibilities can keep you from enjoying that favorite seating area by the pool or in the Ramada by the trees. However, your busy schedule does not mean that you should lose the benefits of your landscape and outdoor oasis.
Spending even 15 minutes outdoors has been proven to improve your mood, increase your energy level and even reduce your blood pressure but even on days when you don’t have a minute to spare sitting outdoor, you can still take advantage of these great health benefits. A study at the University of Melbourne found that just seeing nature, even if it is through a window, provides restorative benefits to mental acuity.
This information can be very valuable when you are planning the landscape for your home. Consider where you spend the majority of your time when at home. Which windows are near your workspace or the area where you spend time doing chores such as loading the dishwasher, folding laundry or cooking? Be certain to speak to your UNIQUE landscape designer about placing specimen plants, focal points or special features near these key windows. So that even when you don’t have time for a stroll outdoors, you can still enjoy the refreshing and invigorating benefits of your landscape through a window.
Some favorite features that you might create could include a trellis covered in flowering vines. This will not only provide beautiful color and foliage but it will also attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Larger shade trees will add to the beauty outside your window as well as helping to control the temperature of the room by blocking the sun in the summer and wind during the fall and spring. In addition, adding a few birdhouses or a bird feeder will attract a variety of birds to brighten your day. Hibiscus, Bird of Paradise and Orange Jubilees are also good sized plants which are easily visible from a window and will create a beautiful and tranquil view.
Ask your UNIQUE designer for other suggestions to create beautiful views from every window in your home so that you can enjoy the health benefits of nature and your landscape.