Feng shui in the landscape

Feng shui is a traditional Chinese practice that utilizes the laws of both heaven and earth to help improve one's life force, or ch'i. For proponents of feng shui, ch'i can refer to internal or physical energy. According to Wikipedia, ch'i relates to an "understanding of local microclimates, the orientation of a structure, its age and its interaction with the surrounding environment from the slope of the land to the vegetation and soil quality."

Feng shui supposedly is a system to control the flow of ch'i. People in favor of feng shui say it affects personal relationships, health and wealth. The three elements needed to correctly apply ch'i in a garden are mountains, water and greenery. Mountains may be symbolically represented by raised planting beds, tall trees and shrubbery. Water, symbolizing wealth, comes into the garden via ponds, streams, fountains or even a dry river of stones, but must be placed carefully to direct the wealth into, rather than away from, one's life.

Balance is a key factor in feng shui. The gardener seeking positive ch'i should place mountains, water and plants fairly close to one another. Beware of how things are arranged. For example, it is believed that sharp items near a path direct sharp energy at passersby, disrupting their internal energy and causing them stress and tension.

Meandering or circular paths are preferred to straight paths in a garden, because straight lines create fast-moving ch'i and may make a person feel discomfort. Curves improve the flow of energy. Planting a flat garden is a very common garden mistake in feng shui and in traditional design. Different layers and levels are thought to encourage ch'i to flow.

Various areas of the garden relate to specific parts of life. The far-left corner represents wealth. Bright colors, such as purple, red or blue, in this area are said attract ch'i and positively affect one's wealth. The center of the garden represents fame and reputation, so placing an archway there may invite ch'i into one's life, bringing fame and enhancing one's reputation. The far-right corner of the garden is for love and marriage. Pink, red and white flowers are recommended in this area to enhance ch'i and provide harmony in the realm of love and marriage.

Whether or not feng shui really works requires individual investigation and trial. However, some of the principles I mentioned also relate to artistic design concepts of the Western world. Perhaps beauty creates peace of mind, which allows good energy to flow.

For more information on gardening, contact me, (775) 887-2252 or skellyj@unce.unr.edu, or your local University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office. Check out many useful horticulture publications at www.unce.unr.edu. "Ask a Master Gardener" at mastergardeners@unce.unr.edu.

n JoAnne Skelly is the Carson City/Storey County Extension educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.