Vibrant green spaces, flowers exploding with color, and fresh, soothing air — gardens possess a mystical ability to calm our minds and uplift our spirits.
Drawn from the AD archives, these three garden concepts are ideal to revamp your backyard this summer. With just a little effort, you can transform it into your personal oasis of serenity and happiness.
1. Flower Beds Along The Periphery: A Living Frame of Memories
Right in the middle of Nenagh, a 115-year-old bungalow in the Nilgiris, Pavitra Rajaram and Paul Abraham have crafted something truly magical — a garden that feels like a living storybook.
As Pavitra so eloquently puts it, “We often measure history in terms of people, but what about plants? The old trees here silently saw a century of life and transformation.”
Around their home blooms a vivid profusion of flowers — from pale pink azaleas to blazing orange alstroemerias. These have been carefully planted along the edges of the house. Consequently, Mother Nature’s own canvas now envelops the home in hues and fragrances. Each window has become a frame for beauty and reminiscence.
Importantly, this flower border is more than just decorative. It tells a story about life, memory, and the untamed, rollicking charm of nature itself.
2. A Colorful Alfresco Dining Corner: Where Colour and Celebration Collide
Imagine waking up to a sunny morning in Jaipur and enjoying breakfast on a table brimming with the city’s colours and patterns.
Inspired by Harago’s collection — an exquisite blend of classic checks and vibrant stripes — this alfresco dining corner invites you to make every meal feel like a celebration.
As Harsh of Harago explains, “We connected deeply to the everyday designs of Chettinad — the lungis, saris, even temple cloths — and brought that vibrant spirit back to our tablecloths.”
With such a cheerful setting, even a simple breakfast becomes a sensory feast. It offers a joyful pause in the whirlwind of hot summer days.
3. Daybeds for Balmy Evenings: Cozy Corners to Slow Down Time
In a lush courtyard in Alibag, beneath the soft shade of sculpted mango trees, inviting khat daybeds create hidden retreats.
Landscape designer Kunal Maniar, who planted the scented champa tree here, describes it as “like the timeless Banarasi sari in a woman’s closet” — classic, reassuring, and evocative of nostalgia.
This garden is a love letter to nature’s rhythms. It was intentionally designed to attract birdsong and the gentle buzz of bees. Moreover, along meandering paths, tucked into green nooks, these daybeds invite you to slow down and savor life’s simple pleasures.
Here, you can rest, breathe, and immerse yourself in languid, warm summer nights — in a landscape woven with memory, warmth, and the quiet joy of simply being.
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