Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes
by Debbie Rodgers
The children's ditty Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes gives us the direction we need to make an outdoor haven. The title reminds us that we need to make our outdoor living space comfortable -- with pillows or cushions for our head, footrests for our feet and relaxing places to sit (for our parts not specifically mentioned).
But the tune goes on to say eyes, ears, mouth and nose. The eyes we tend to take care of naturally, making pleasing vignettes with our furniture and accessories. We pay attention to the color of cushions and flowers, the shape of the chair and the view from the railing.
But how often do we consider the other senses in feathering our outdoor nest?
Recently, nearly half of those who took part in a Paradise Porch poll chose "fragrant hyacinths" as their indoor flower of choice for this winter. No doubt, the hyacinth's scent played as big a part as its colorful beauty.
In a survey presented on my web site earlier this year, respondents enthusiastically voted for the smell of a summer rain, that wonderful odor that rises from the ground after a dry spell, as their favorite outdoor scent.
Scientists have named that special scent petrichor and explain it this way: "(It) is from oils given off by vegetation, absorbed into neighboring surfaces, and released into the air after a first rain."
If petrichor is a favorite scent of yours, be sure to include it in your outdoor space. If you have a porch or a deck, have some seating near the edge where the space meets the grass in your yard. On a balcony, place a window box filled with earth and plants where it will receive the direct rainfall.
Or, if you prefer the sweet smell of flowers, choose your growing things both for appearance and for fragrance. It's particularly enjoyable to sit after dark in warm weather and enjoy the scent of night-blooming fragrant flowers such as nicotiana and heliotrope.
If you're really pressed for space or can't be bothered to garden, include scent by burning citronella candles or incense.
Just as important to your enjoyment of your outdoor room is the sense of sound. Perhaps we remember from our childhood the jingle of the ice-cream truck or the shouts of friends calling out for us to play.
Today, you may be just as inclined to block out the sounds that drift to your space -- especially if they are raucous or unpleasant. Even the poor crickets didn't get many votes in my reader poll about favorite outdoor sounds, although songbirds did rate nearly as high as a babbling brook.
Noise can be rather effectively blocked with physical barriers such as privacy screens. Plants, especially those with an abundance of small leaves, efficiently hinder sound waves as well. A small fountain with moving water, especially one that combines bells with the water will cover unwanted sounds with more pleasant ones.
In addition, consider wind chimes, CDs with soft music or bird songs, or even small machines that simulate the sounds of breaking waves, waterfalls or rain.
Take a cue from something you've known all your life -- remember your head and shoulders, knees and toes. When furnishing your outdoor haven, feed all of your senses.
(c) 2006 Debbie Rodgers, All rights reserved.