A Summer for the senses!

Check out these tips on how to make your garden a full sensory experience this summer

	Serve an edible flower salad as an appetizer at your next dinner party.

Toronto, Ont. – Summer is the season for the senses. The smell of the barbecue, the chirping of birds, the colourful glow of a backyard fire – they’re all a welcome respite from the frozen tundra of winter and the rainy months of spring. This summer marks a trend in peoples’ embracing of this sensory indulgence — and reflecting it in their gardens.

“One of the biggest trends we are seeing in gardens this year is the resurgence in encouraging people to enjoy gardens on an all-sensory level,” said Denis Flanagan of Landscape Ontario. “Gardens have evolved. We are seeing a major shift from the traditional garden which is mainly aesthetically pleasing, to gardens that now engage all five senses.”

Landscape Ontario offers 5 great ways to add an element of style and the senses to your garden this year:

The use of external art pieces in a garden
Gardens are all about life, but this year, according to Denis, more and more people are incorporating different elements into their gardens to create what he calls a “living art form." Carvings, fabrics, coloured wood, rocks – these are all external pieces that help create a personal and expressive space.

• The use of water
  Water is essential for flowers to bloom, plants to grow and trees to bear fruit. But more than ever it has become an essential element of design in the garden. Fountains and streams are aesthetically pleasing, offer calming sounds and can sustain life.
  
  
• Bringing the indoors, outdoors
  In the last few years, the garden has transformed into a real extension of the home. From outdoor kitchens to fully-furnished rooms, one of the biggest trends in gardening this year is the creation of a functional space in the outdoors. In many cases, outdoor garden spaces are becoming more lavished and more functional than indoor spaces.
  
  
• At your next dinner party, serve an edible flower salad as an appetizer
  Adding edible elements grown in your own garden to a salad will bring together the sense of space and taste. Common garden flowers suitable for use in salads include marigolds, dandelions, carnations, day lilies, pansies, chrysanthemums and nasturtiums.
  
  
• Enjoy a local garden tour
  Get a sense for what is around you. Local garden tours are a great source of inspiration!
  
  

About Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, one of the most vibrant associations of its kind, is comprised of over 2,000 members, ten sector groups and nine local chapters. Its trade mission is to promote the horticulture industry in Ontario, and its public mission, Green for Life, promotes the joys and benefits of plants and green spaces. Visit http://www.landscapeontario.com for more information.

Media Contact:
Stephen Murdoch
smurdoch@enterprisecanada.com
289-241-3997