A garden has limitless possibilities when it comes to creativity and functionality. It can be a space which you can share with your loved ones or spend your quality me-time. It can be a space where you can
pluck your own food or flowers that fill your room with unadulterated fragrance. It can also be a space where you invite and integrate nature – be it the symphony of birdsongs or the sight of fluttering butterflies. A garden has many things on the menu to offer you beyond just greens. In this age of rapid erosion of our natural environment, you can look at these emerging trends which are now taking centre
stage in landscapes worldwide:
1. Foodscaping : Contrary to popular beliefs, kitchen gardens or orchards can serve your individual needs but can also integrate well with your landscaping aesthetics – if designed and planned well. Imagine plucking your own organic food straight from your front-yard or backyard. By incorporating edibles into an ornamental garden, one can transform your perception of the gardening experience. Be it everyday vegetables, fruits or the rare, seasonal crops, your garden can be the source of your well-being and health. If maintained organically with sustainable farming principles, this small investment can prove to outweigh every other option.
2. Rain Gardens : Keen to do rainwater harvesting and worried about the associated costs? This simple and most effective technique to capture rainwater run-off on your land, can be your answer. Rain gardens can help in recharging groundwater with beautifully designed plant beds. A rain garden is a landscaped area that collects, adsorbs, and filters stormwater runoff from roof tops, driveways, patios, and other hard surfaces that don’t otherwise allow water to soak in. It is the most cost-efficient and aesthetic way of
channelizing stormwater and recharging your land’s groundwater easily. Every year, the intensity of storms keep intensifying and rain gardens can be your solution to address the flooding in a controlled way.
3. Water bodies : No, I am not talking about fountains. Water bodies are not just an interesting feature of any landscape but can help regulate the micro-climate of your land. Aspects such as lotus & lily
plantation, fish, natural rocks can add so much value to your garden design. There are several types of aquascaping that fits a landscape design theme. From a natural or jungle design that mimics a
natural habitat such as a pond or river stream to a more detailed Japanese or Dutch design that its symmetrically defined. However, while designing any such aquascape, one must pay attention to regulate water flow at all times.
The next time you want to add any garden element, think of the above that might help you and our planet both.
By Dipti Agarwal, Founder and Chief Gardening Officer, Peepal, Email: dipti.agarwal@peepal.one |
Website: https://peepal.one/ | Instagram: peepalindia
