Many people have beautiful exotic gardens or sections of their yards set aside as relaxing sanctuaries. Though they can look like someone has spent hundreds of dollars to design them, in actuality, many ideas can be very inexpensive.

Careful research in in plant and garden catalogs, magazine articles, and online can give you a basis for ideas. Even though some of these featured gardens can be pricey, you could use similar but less expensive plants and decorations for your sanctuary.

Lattice work

This is one of the best ideas to use in your garden. It enables privacy and a trellis for vines and climbing plants. You can use pieces of latticework as the background walls in your garden. If properly secured, fairy lights can be strung on them and plaques and other artwork can be hung on them. You can also make a roof out of pieces of latticework, or sections of ladders. Hanging plants in decorated pots can be hung from this to create a lush tropical look. These can be accented with strings of miniature white lights to give your garden a fairy tale look.

To enhance the latticework, you can stain it, paint it, and weatherproof it.

Choose inexpensive plants, trees and vines to decorate your garden. If you aren't very good with plants, some artificial silk trees and plants may be a good idea. This way your garden can look beautiful year round. adding some mulch and whitewashed pebbles around the bases of the plants helps hold in moisture, control weeds, and give a professional look to your garden.

A fountain always adds an exotic touch to a garden. Running water attracts butterflies and adds a relaxing touch to your garden. The same is true for shallow ponds and birdbaths. You can put some fish in the pond and add some toads to your yard. Be sure to set around some clay pots tipped a bit on their sides, and some toad houses to make them feel welcome.

Lighting at strategic angles can help spotlight certain areas of your garden. Be sure to include some of those exotic torches , garden pathway lights, and strings of miniature lights for dramatic lighting effects. Citronella and other scented and unscented candles help control insects and also add to the effect of lighting.

Of course you're going to need some seating and maybe some tables. You can get these inexpensively at yard sales and dollar stores. Wicker is always nice, however some of the new resin varieties are also very stylish. They're easy to clean and are weather resistant.

Statues and lawn ornaments can be purchased inexpensively at yard sales, flea markets, and dollar stores. There are all sorts of exotic and fantasy animals and creatures to choose from. Be sure to hide some among the plants and near ponds.

To add exotic fragrance to your garden. plants some night blooming flowers. Moon flowers, honeysuckle, and jasmine evoke a delicious fragrance in the evening hours. You might want to burn some sweet smelling incense to help deter insects and perfume the air.

You could also hook up some speakers and put them in a well protected area of your garden. Some exotic music and nature sounds could put you mentally into another world. These can help you spend endless hours relaxing in your garden. If you prefer you can hang some wind chimes to capture the gentle breezes and emit tinkling fairy music.

If your budget can manage, a gazebo is a beautiful addition to an exotic garden. Either weather stained or painted white, it can truly look magnificent when decorated with strings of miniature white lights.

Learn more about this author, Kathy H.
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