WARMING THE WORLD WITH KINDNESS”One kind word can warm three winter winter months.” ~ Japanese proverbMay the warmth of kindness–given and received–be yours in abundance this Valentine’s Day! We are grateful for the joy and friendship you share with us here in this space each week.~ Betty Hanselman, for all of us at Hanselman Landscape & Gardens

Author Lafcadio Hearn, known best for his books about Japan and Japanese legends, highlights the facet of mood in his description of gardens in Japan: “A Japanese garden…is therefore at once a picture and a poem; perhaps more a poem than a picture. For as nature’s scenery…affects us with sensations…so must the true reflection of it in the labor of the landscape gardener create not merely an impression of beauty, but a mood in the soul. The grand old landscape gardeners…carried their theory yet further than this…there were expressed both a mood of nature and…the mood of man.”In next week’s finale, I will share some ways Hanselman Landscape realizes the ‘sense of place’ concept in the gardens I design. Hopefully, you see and feel not only the beauty of the garden spaces pictured below but also the “mood” unique to each. Contributed by James HanselmanGardener (& “sense of place” advocate)

WINTER GARDENING”Nature has undoubtedly mastered the art of winter gardening and even the most experienced gardener can learn from the unrestrained beauty around them.”- Vincent A. SimeoneWhat winter artwork, what unrestrained beauty, is stirring your soul this morning? Can you imagine this soul-stirring joy coming to life in your garden–in the sweep of wind through Pines? In the jubilant song of birds in flight? In the gentle trickle of water over ice-crusted rocks? When you are ready to create some artwork in your garden, we’d love to help! Joyfully shared by Betty HanselmanGardener’s wife

The phrase ‘sense of place’ is often used in relation to those physical characteristics that make a place special or unique, as well as to those qualities about a location that fosters a sense of authentic human attachment and belonging. Places that lack a sense of place are sometimes referred to as “placeless” or “inauthentic.” Placeless landscapes are those that have no special relationship to the places in which they are located—they could be anywhere. Roadside shopping malls, gas stations, convenience stores, fast-food chains, and chain department stores are examples of placeless landscape elements. Claire Sawyers, director of the Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College since 1990, refers to the physical qualities of a location in the ‘sense of place’ discussion when she writes, “To garden with a sense of place means to discover and preserve what is special about your site, its genius loci.” Join us next week as we continue our ‘sense of place’ discussion with a look at the Japanese gardening ideal of evoking a garden ‘mood’. Contributed by James HanselmanGardener (and ‘sense of place’ advocate)

PLAYING OUTSIDE”I will understand problem solving, self-exploration, decision making, number relationships, structures, complex vocabulary, healthy living, cause and effect, creativity, imaginative thinking, and my natural world when I am big, because I play outside when I am little.”(from www.HowWeeLearn.com)In 2021, make outside play a greater part of your daily routine!Joyfully shared by Betty HanselmanGardener’s wife (& outside play advocate)

“The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination.”~ Terri Guillemets (American quote-collector and creator of The Quote Garden; 1973-present), gladly shared by Betty Hanselman, Gardener’s wife (& winter imaginer). This winter’s day, is your garden imagination running wild? As you daydream, we invite you to write down what comes to mind. Do your garden dreams include boulders and falling water, a courtyard garden, a new patio, a hot tub, or a swimming pool? Whatever you’re imagining, schedule a consultation today or call us to share your idea with us at 717-653-1273. We’d love to see if we can help you make it a reality!