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Many perfectly sensible and sociable adults will confess that they had a secret, private hiding place in some garden of their childhood: a hidden corner in a grandmother’s garden, a secret spot in a grove of trees, or even a shrubby nook in a vacant lot. In the rush to ensure that we create environments for socializing and for family activities, we can forget the joy we found in those secret garden hideaways.

Sure, it’s great to have “together” spaces: like a pool for the family to splash in… or a swingset and sandbox for the youngsters. But more than one parent with a beautifully groomed yard has listened to their child speak reverently of the “hideout” at a friend’s place: a bank of towering, unkempt weeds where a child can hide from the world.

Children have it figured out: the more hectic our lives, the more we need a place for renewal and rejuvenation. Creating your own garden hideaway need not involve major construction projects or expensive plantings. Instead, scan your garden for the three key criteria:

1. Hidden from the world.

Look for privacy, or a sense of enclosure or hidden-ness. You’ll need space for a comfortable chair for one. Is there a spot where you can grow a screen of morning glories… or maybe moonflowers if you plan to enjoy your oasis in the evening? The perfect kids’ hideout allows you to remain hidden while preserving at least a glimpse of the outside world. Use the same principles.

2. The sounds of silence

You’re a very lucky homeowner if birdsong and rustling leaves are your natural sound environment. For the rest of us, we need to improvise. Wind chimes are a popular way to create a more peaceful soundscape. But to many, the sound of water is incomparably soothing, and you can achieve the effect with only a babbling fountain in a large ceramic pot. Even a gurgle can help conceal or counteract the noise of traffic or humming air conditioners.

3. Eye-level beauty

Create a focal point that you can enjoy from your chair. Flowering vines - like the morning glory or moonflowers - can be helpful. Or put a pot of pretty annuals on a short pillar or stand. Consider some scented flowers to appeal to the senses. Only a fence to keep you company? Try mounting a framed mirror that reflects a pretty area of the garden.

From daycare to office work, our lives are overwhelmingly communal - and solitude is a quality which easily goes missing in our lives. Each day, try to disappear for a few minutes - with an early morning coffee, a mid-afternoon lemonade or a late-night glass of wine. Bring a favourite book, a summer journal, or happy thoughts… but leave your roam phone in the house.

Kid’s Corner

Don’t forget that children still love their own little secret spaces. It’s not too late to grow a Green Bean Hideout: in a corner of the garden (out of the way but not too shaded) outline a circle about 5′ ‘in diameter. Build a temporary teepee frame with 8 or more long bamboo poles, nestled firmly into the ground around the circle, and simply secured at the top with twine. At the base of each pole, plant 1 or 2 seeds of Scarlet Runner or other pole beans. Kids will love watching their secret hideout grow to the rafters and beyond. And this hideout has a built-in kitchen!

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Spring is the perfect time of year for setting up a new garden space. Everything is alive, growing and happy, so it’s no wonder you’d want your yard to get in on the action.

To set up a basic bed for flowers, all you need to do is remove the sod and plant small plants or seeds in the soil. Getting rid of the sod can be a lot of work. An easy way to get rid of sod, which unfortunately takes a long time, is to cover the area you want to make into a bed with five to seven layers of newspaper. Cover the paper with mulch and allow it to sit undisturbed for at least six months. A year is ideal.

When you remove the mulch, the newspaper and the sod will be gone. Then all you have to do is plant, put the mulch back around the plants, and enjoy.

Assuming you already have a flower garden spot prepared, what should you plant? The answer depends on whether your area gets sun, shade, or a mixture, and what part of the country you live in. There are beautiful plants, such as impatiens, hostas, ferns and vinca, that thrive in shade, just as there are a multitude of flowering plants that glory in the sun, including all sorts of wildflowers, coreopsis, lilies and more.

To find the best plants for your yard, go to a local garden center and find the plants designed for the amount of light your garden spot gets. The plants you can buy locally will be well-suited to the environment where you live.

When designing your new garden space, remember that nature loves odd numbers. Buy three, five, seven or more of the same kind of plant or flower, and your garden design will look much more natural. Also, don’t line your plants up in rows. Nature doesn’t subscribe to straight lines. Go for a walk by a stream or in a field of wildflowers to see how nature designs, then go for a similar look in your yard.

Your garden can be formal or informal, stick with one color in all its shades or offer a multitude of bright, pastel or muted colors. The decisions all rely on your personal taste. Once you have picked the flowers and planted them according to the directions on the tags, then you can have fun filling the garden with cute accessories.

When a garden is new it can look a little bare because the plants are small and not fully established. You shouldn’t over plant your garden space if you are using perennial plants (those that come back year after year) because they will grow larger each year and eventually fill in the space provided.

Instead, fill the empty space with cute birdbaths, birdfeeders or birdhouses. Add decorative stepping stones or sculptures, gazing balls, even plant stands that will allow you to add height by placing a potted plant in your garden. If there is a tree in your garden space, you can hang a birdfeeder or wind chime for an extra touch of whimsy.

And when the color fades from your flowers, add a multi-colored fabric pinwheel that will leave a rainbow in your garden all year long.

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Ted Roberson

Undoubtedly, one of the first set of wind chimes were made from plain sticks and/or strings of small sea shells. Then wind chimes graduated to those made from the hollow stalks of bamboo, which resulted in a more pleasing sound. Once that sound was discovered, some smart soul went on to learn if those hollow tubes were cut to varying lengths, wind chimes could become almost musical in nature.

Today, some of the most beautiful sounding wind chimes are made from hollow tubes made of light weight metal such as aluminum. The longer the tube, the deeper the tone. It is now common to cut 4 or 5 tubes of varying lengths and attach them to a wooden disk at the top, while inserting a second wooden disk in the center of the tubes. The purpose of the second disk is to allow the sound of each tube to come forth as it hits the wooden disk, as driven by the wind.

One of the first wind chimes I ever noticed was made of thin pieces of glass. They were extremely common at the time as they were available in amost any dime store for less than $.50. I believe they were made in China and/or Japan. They were not that well put together, but while they lasted, the sound they made was, and still is charming. And to this day, the sound of glass wind chimes is still my favorite. But because of their being so fragile, I know hang them inside my home.

Yes, you can enjoy wind chimes inside your home as well as outside. I’m kind of surprised more people don’t seem to know that. Just hang them in front of a window which you are inclined to leave open all summer long. Mine hang just inside my kitchen and bedroom windows and offer beautiful, melodic tones upon the whim of the breeze all summer long.

The best thing about wind chimes are they are still cheap. In general, they start at about $4, but can cost as much as $200. They are made from all sorts of materials. Bamboo, sea shells, aluminum, metal, glass, ceramic, and even flattened table ware, such as old spoons, knives and forks. Take a listen, then decide what kind of sound you would like to unexpectedly hear in your own home and garden when that breeze begins to blow.

About the Author

Liz Norman is an avid gardener and freelance writer. You will find more resources for wind chimes here. Or, for more beautiful additions to your garden visit Bamboo Winds.

Wind chimes have tones and vibrations that soothe and calm the mind helping to release all your stress. When you dig in the garden and connect with the earth, listening to your chimes tinkle in the breeze can help you also connect with your inner spirit. Chimes have been used for much more than just decoration for centuries. In fact, wind chimes are used in many Feng Shui cures. You can hang your chimes inside as well as outside, metal chimes are best for North, Northwest and West while wood chimes are best for South, Southeast and East. The number of rods can be associated with the cure you want. Use 4, 6, 7, 8 or 18 rods for luck and 5 rods to reject bad energy. Use bamboo for outside.

Of course, you should pick chimes that decorate your porch or garden area to your liking. There’s plenty of styles and materials to choose from. I favor the chimes with a stained glass decoration on top that comes in all kinds of whimsical styles. If you are more traditional, you might go for a simple bamboo chime with an Asian flair. You can even get chimes that are hand tuned if you are really into the sound quality of your wind chime.

Hanging your wind chimes is easy. To hang from the top of your porch, you can use a simple C shaped hook that screws into the ceiling. Any type hook can be used as long as it is strong enough to support your wind chime. Be sure you hang it in an area where it’s freedom of movement is not obstructed by anything. You can also buy fancy hangers that screw in or that stick up from the ground. When hanging your chime, try to pick a place that will not get a strong wind – this way you can be sure your chime does not blow off and break.

So, the next time that you get out into the garden, make sure that you hang out some wind chimes so that you can add a new level to your gardening experience!

About the Author
Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.wonderful-wind-chimes.com where you can find all kinds of wind chimes to brighten your day. Learn more about the differnt kinds of stained glass chimes at http://www.wonderful-wind-chimes.com/Glass-Chimes.html

As a Feng Shui cure, your wind chimes could help you gain luck and prosper. Metal wind chimes are recommended for the North, West and Northwest, Wood for the East, South and Southeast. For good luck, it is recommended to use chimes with 4, 6, 7, 8 or 18 rods. If it’s bad energy to want to keep away, then go for a chime with 5 rods. For outside the house, bamboo chimes are best.

You can hang wind chimes anywhere and on any type of hook - hooks sold for bird feeders work pretty good. Just make sure whatever hook you choose can support the weight of your chime. Make sure you do not hang it too close to any structure as you want it to be free to flow in the wind. Or you can use a fancy hanger to add more interest. When hanging your chime, remember to pick a spot that is protected from strong gusts of wind to avoid damage to your chime.

Some Ways To Enjoy Your Wind Chime:

Hang it near your hammock and take a soothing nap to the melodic tones of your chime.
Plant some flowers while listening to the music of your wind chime.
Bring dinner outside and have a romantic supper while listening to your chime.
Set your chimes up in your bedroom window so that you can hear them when the breeze wafts through on a hot summers evening.
Put some chimes in your office and to help release the stress of the workday.
Hang your wind chime by your door so that you can hear it first thing upon arriving home.

About the Author

Find out more about soothing wind chimes at http://www.wonderful-wind-chimes.com

The Healing History Of Wind Chimes

The Asian cultures have long believed that using wind chimes could ease the mind, body and soul. Used in conjunction with meditation, the gentle tones and clearing of ones mind, work to reduce the everyday stresses of life. The calming effect truly will benefit all aspects of health in the listener. Perhaps with the knowledge of the ancient Asian cultures, wind chime healing can continue to benefit society in the present day.

The Religious History of Wind Chimes

Historically, wind chimes have been used by many cultures, especially Asian cultures, to welcome good and friendly spirits and to scare the evil spirits away. The chimes were often hung in every corner of a home to keep the home safe from evil. The compilation of the gentle tones would create an atmosphere in which only good spirits would feel welcomed. A home with several wind chimes was sure to be a safe haven from any pursuing evil.

The Agricultural History of Wind Chimes

Probably the most historical use of wind chimes was in agriculture. Throughout history farmers have used wind chimes in the fields to scare away birds and other animals. With the careful placement of the chimes throughout the fields, any animal would quickly be frightened away with even the stirring of a gentle breeze. This use of wind chimes insured a bountiful harvest which would benefit entire communities. There are still farmers to this day that use this technique with positive results. It is a great way to discourage any wild animals from invading because no harm comes to the many creatures mankind co-exists with.

All of the uses of wind chimes date back thousands of years. There is no real documentation as to the exact date in which wind chimes were invented and first used, but they have been popular in many cultures for a number of centuries. Wind chimes have certainly stood the test of time since they are still quite popular with people all over the world.

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Brought to you as a courtesy from the Wind Chimes Store, a member of the Discount Home Decor network.

The lengths and placements of tubular pipes might look as though they were put together haphazardly. In reality, their placement is dependant upon where each pipe will vibrate most when struck by the clapper.

Areas of the pipe called “anti-nodes” resonate with a clearer, truer sound. These special points are found at each end of the pipe, as well as in the center. String placement is also important. Holes for the string are drilled where the pipe vibrates least. This is known as the “node of vibration.”

That eye-catching wind chime hung from a tree limb to complete garden yard décor and landscape design is more than just lovely. It is a high precision instrument that joyously plays nature’s song. It is conduit to feng shui philosophy, based on the invisible yet tangible presence of universal energy flowing throughout our environment.

Wind chimes sound best when tuned to the pentatonic scale, the same used as the black keys on a piano. This type scale is best for generating pleasing but random notes – like those generated by the wind. Type of material used is also important. Some materials provide a clearer sound than others. For decorative purposes, the pipes on some wind chimes are made to look like copper. Some clappers are made from metal, some from wood, or another material to produce variations of sound, different from one another.

Besides making harmonious sounds generated by the force of air current, the wood and metal used in the production of wind chimes further enhances their connection to the feng shui philosophy and the importance of elements.

A wind chime is among the most perfect gifts for Mother’s Day. They also make meaningful anniversary gifts, and great personalized housewarming gifts. That is because they not only enhance home decorating and add interest to garden yard décor. They also are symbolic of harmony and peace…important elements of any relationship.

A quality set of tuned wind chimes can be found in lawn and garden stores, department stores, and some specialty shops. For your best selection and competitive pricing, however, purchase wind chimes on line.

Wind chimes…a unique and lovely way to set the tone for peace and harmony, while adding beauty and charm to your home or yard.

About the Author

Stephen Betzen is a loving husband/supporter/and friend to his wife Rachel Betzen. Rachel and Stephen are dedicated to socially and ethically responsible business practices. Lovers of gardening and simple living. Buy your windchimes online.