Mindful Garden #5

Here is a photo update on the mindful garden in addition to the surrounding area that I’ve taken to calling “The Calmingwoods”.

Daily life has become enriched by the variety of outdoor affordances I have cultivated over the past few years. I spend much of my leisure time in this green space. I pace in the mindful garden and often get drawn into mind wandering while I walk. Often I will pull weeds (usually goldenrod) in the mindful garden when I walk the circuit. Sometimes I walk slowly, with intention, and other times I move with a self-assured speed that comes from knowing every step of the path. Walking quickly often accompanies exciting ideas. I take breaks in shaded areas with affordances for sitting or standing; I have created shaded spots using umbrellas and the alcoves of trees. Two micro spaces have ropes and hooks installed for hammocks. I also have a hidden “green door” that I can step through to rest beneath the canopy of an oak grove. The fire pit area is an ideal social spot during the evening.

I will continue to evolve and document this green space in an informal way. Certain insights that I gain from these spaces deepen my design practice through experiential knowledge, yet they are also part of my daily positive rituals, which means I am often working and playing at the same time. I experiment and catalogue the woods infrequently such that I am able to remain present during my leisure time. It is possible that I may provide a more detailed account of my behavioral patterns in this green space but, for now, these pictures serve to document the space’s evolution over time.