Garden Trends for 2010 - The 'Feel Good' Garden

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The top three global gardening trends for 2010 (out of 10)  are the kitchen garden, the organic garden, and the Feel Good garden.   I like the Feel Good Garden.

This information comes to us from the second annual Global Garden Report from Husqvarna and Gardena.  It is based on 1.4 million (!) blog posts from 13 countries.

jchants photostream - Lake Forest Secret garden tour

They write:

"From 2010, individualism in the garden is on the rise, replacing conformity. Gone is the obsession with keeping up with the neighbors’ ... it’s now about expressing yourself using your outdoor space, encouraged by on-line friends."

 from garden diva website

That's me - your on-line friend! And I encourage you to keep expressing yourself in your 'feel good' (FG) garden. Here is what the Global Garden Report said specifically about FG gardens:

"The Feel Good Garden

As we continue to live stressful lives, there is an ever increasing need for a safe haven at home. Globally more of us are turning to our gardens for the peace and tranquility that nature is perfectly suited to deliver.

Suriname woman in her garden

For 2010 we will be looking to our garden spaces to unwind after work, relax and ‘recharge the batteries’ and most importantly reconnect with nature which traditionally has a calming influence of our lives.

Jan Johnsen - a feel good garden for a dear client - Christmas ferns on right, inexpensive gate from local garden center

I couldn't have said it better myself....that is what my blog is essentially all about - creating garden spaces that help us unwind and 'recharge the batteries".  And it also seeks to answer another 2010 garden trend that has been identified in a different analysis - 'info lust'.

People want knowledge - plant info, on line how-to videos, classes, lists and special events...anything to satisfy our insatiable need to learn...and I am here to teach all about Feel Good Gardens...

coleus, double impatiens and more

so you've got to ask yourself - what makes me feel good?

Lush vs. Controlled? overflowing vs. spare? Boxwood vs. Rhody? Palm vs. Plumeria? Colors vs. Texture...or all of the above...

Jan Johnsen Landscape

So we are reverting back  to my halcyon 'hippie' adolescence (albeit in the garden now) : if it feels good, garden it.....

swedish? Tibetan? californian? a feel good garden for sure...