Friendship Garden – A garden that in any way involves friends is a friendship garden.All of my gardens could fall under this theme because each includes plants that friends have given to me.Whether friends help with the actual planting or just with the material or suggestions for design, a garden can be considered a friendship garden.The more actual involvement of two or more parties, the better.
Neighbor Garden – I’ve seen many gardens over the years that form a friendly border between neighboring yards.They encourage sharing of plants, ideas and conversation.It is amazing the difference a garden boundary can make between yards as opposed to a fence.Fences definitely have their place, but when it is possible, a garden is not just esthetically pleasing, but can stimulate growth of relationships, as well.
Uncle Al's grapevines
Family Garden – The more family members that participate in the planting and maintaining of a family garden, the more fun it is. When children are encouraged to help, whether they are your own kids, nieces, nephews or grandkids, they feel more ownership in the garden and will look forward to the time spent there.Tasks such as weeding, watering and deadheading can be as much fun as planting and watching the growth.Gardens are an excellent tool for teaching responsibility.Just as kids need to learn the maintenance involved in having a pet, their own room, or a car, they can learn that maintaining a garden is can be relaxing and enjoyable. My sister hides new plants and garden art in my family garden each year on my birthday.I don’t know who enjoys the yearly ritual more, as she has as much fun hiding them as I do in searching for the new additions. A garden can be made extra special when it is composed of plants shared by extended family members.What an economical and green souvenir (as long as the state allows it) a plant is to bring back from a visit!
Romance Garden – Use your imagination when planting a romance garden.You might include flowers that symbolize love: roses, love-in-a-mist, and such.A bench, a settee or a table for two helps set the tone.Garden statuary such as cherubs brings to mind your Valentine.Planting flowers special couples in your lives have nurtured can add significance to your flower bed.A rose bush that was special to your parents, lilies that Grandpa used to pick for Grandma, giant sunflowers or potatoes (yes, potatoes!) that your uncle planted for your aunt…
Carly's stepping stone
Healing Garden – There is nothing that nurtures my soul and helps calm me as much as my garden.Hospitals have taken to including healing gardens in their landscapes.A healing garden can be planted to help heal a broken heart or to help a person who is seriously ill.It may also be planted as a preventative measure and include medicinal herbs for those who are proponents of alternative medicine.My healing garden was planted to help heal hearts that were hurting due to a friend’s sudden tragic loss and the pain that was accompanying change in our extended family brought about by divorce.A new path to be walked was quite symbolic in the planting of this part of our garden.
Memorial Garden – This type of garden can be planted in memory of one or many people or perhaps even in memory of a special pet. The first memorial garden I planned was at our high school.It was planted following the Oklahoma City bombing.Students planted the garden in the shape of the Red Cross to symbolize the collection our school took to send to the victims. Although the garden has since been replaced, it paved the way for more student plantings.We planted a memorial to a much-loved teacher.The next year we opened it up to additional plantings in memory of students’ and community members’ lost loved-ones.Other faculty members jumped on board.The current school atrium with its ponds and waterfalls, and streams were designed, built, and planted with the teamwork of four teachers and several students.Kids even came in to work on the project over their spring break. In a school setting this can give ownership to the students, as well as encourage community participation.
Some other types of partnering gardens would include Community Gardens, Organizational Gardens (such as 4-H and Scouts) and Church Gardens.
