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      Four cast stone columns help to “ground” the scene.

      A Garden in Tune with the Four Directions

      In this age of GPS navigation, the cardinal directions of North, South, East and West may seem nothing more than useful aspects of highway signs. But in ages past, the “Four Winds,” as the directions were called, were an important consideration when laying out buildings, towns and gardens. For example, the main shopping road of ancient Roman towns was called the cardo, or heart, and always ran in a north/south direction. This tenet of town planning can still be seen in New York’s Fifth Avenue and other prominent avenues of older cities.

      Using the Qualities of North, South, East and West

      Each of the cardinal directions can be thought of as having its own distinct qualities, based on their solar and geomagnetic characteristics. In fact, many cultures saw them as having particular personalities. North is solid and quiet while South is celebratory and expansive. East is fruitful and promotes growth and West is social. If you know the characteristics of each direction you can knowledgeably locate a bench, house or plant bed.

       The Four Directions in Brief

      North – The Direction of Earthy Contemplation

      North is the direction of all things that relate to the earth. It is associated with quiet contemplation and meditative sculpture gardens. The north side of a house is the natural place for large stones, specimen trees and any artful item that is to be admired quietly. We look to the north for “grounding.”

      Why is this? In the early 1990s, scientists discovered that our brains contained a biomineral called magnetite. This highly magnetic form of iron oxide is similar to the magnetite naturally found in rocks. Sailors and ancient seafarers called it a lodestone; they would rub magnetite-laden rocks on metal needles to magnetize them. This was the genesis of the directional compass where the needles always point north. The magnetite in our brain is like our personal lodestone and may make us respond to the subtle magnetic pull of north. Perhaps this is why some feng shui practitioners advise us to sleep with our head pointing north!

      I placed these granite steles in this garden on the north side of a house. They act as a focal point from a large foyer window.

      Knowing that stone of any sort befits the north side of a house, I designed a quiet garden of stone and grasses for a contemporary home with a large, north-facing window. The floor to ceiling window offered a long, narrow view and reminded me of a Japanese alcove, where a flower arrangement or art piece is displayed.

      I placed five rough steles, or upright stones, amidst soft, ornamental grasses in a plant bed at the far end of a long view (photo at left). The bed is edged by thin bluestone pavers and sits beyond a field of smooth, tawny colored concrete slabs and gray crushed stone. The contrast of the stone, concrete and feathery grasses provides an interesting textural counterpoint. The stones are particularly stunning at night when underground “well lights” dramatically up-light each one. The diffuse light spills over onto the surrounding grasses, forming an ethereal sight.

      Several varieties of grasses are planted here. The feathery dwarf fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’) and maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis gracillimus) are wonderful companions to the short but vibrant ‘Elijah Blue’ fescue (Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’).

      The soft blades of ‘Elijah Blue’ blue fescue look great next to a native glacial rock outcrop.

      An important pointer for North gardens is to remember that shadows fall on the north side of a building. This can cast an unappealing gloom on a scene. Therefore, I located this garden about 20 feet out from the building – beyond the reach of the long shadows of winter. The resulting long view also adds drama and depth to the scene. A wonderful bonus for north-facing gardens is that at midday the sun is always behind you, which ensures that “nature’s spotlight” shines on the object but never gets in your eyes.

      A viewing garden for the north side of a house, far out of reach of winter shadows.

      A bench catches the gentle morning sun coming from the east. The ‘Neon Lights’ foam-flowers (Tiarella ‘Neon Lights’) that bloom in spring like it too.

      East, the Auspicious Direction

      East, the home of the early morning sun, is considered by many cultures to be the auspicious cardinal direction. Wise gardeners site their vegetables plots facing east because morning light provides optimal plant growth. Yoga practitioners face east when performing morning Salute to the Sun exercises to bask in the sun’s enlivening eastern rays. Designers of Gothic cathedrals sited them so congregants face east for prayers. And many libraries of old were designed so that the majority of their windows faced east.

      We know east is associated with morning sunlight, but why do historic traditions also connect it with intellectual and spiritual pursuits? It may have to do with the effect of direction on our brain. Neuroscientist Dr. Tony Nader asserts that when we face east the firing patterns of the neurons in our brain’s thalamus are more coherent than when we face south or west. Could it be that we think more clearly facing east? Vastu, the ancient Indian system concerned with the design of the physical environment, suggests that students should face east when studying, for better concentration and sharper memory.

      A hammock can encourage daydreaming, especially when it faces the east.

      Knowledgeable garden designers, aware that an eastern outlook may enhance mental acuity, locate benches so that they face that direction. Ideally, you might encourage better daydreaming by hanging a hammock to catch the rays of the eastern sun. And if the hammock’s eastern orientation is coupled with a stand of trees to the west, then it is also shaded from the hot afternoon sun.

      Morning sun streams through this gate, lighting up the dappled willow (Salix integra Hakuro-nishiki) that is planted just beyond it.

      Always Follow the Light. There is nothing quite as pleasing as morning light shining through

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