Communing with Nature

"Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better." -Albert Einstein

Believe it or not, this stylish room-with-a-view is actually a pre-fabricated green house/garden shed kit designed by Ville Hara and Linda Bergroth for Kekkilä Garden (Finland.)

Linda modified the original design slightly adding lighting, wood floors and solar panels to create her own private retreat located on a remote island in eastern Finland.

 

The kit comes in various sizes and 

has a storage shed at the back made of Finnish pine.  

The greenhouse portion is made of safety glass and equipped with automatic openers to control the temperature inside.

Salvaged bricks were used to create the simple stairs.

Amazingly, the only tool needed to put together the entire structure is a screwdriver - (sans the modifications, of course.) 

What an idyllic place to retreat and recharge...soaking in the inspiring surroundings.  —I'm imagining what it must be like to spend the night there...lying in bed with a blanket of stars to send you dreaming.   Pure heaven!

all photographs by Arsi Ikäheimonen,  Arsi Ikäheimonen Photography 

linenandlavender.blogspot.com

You might also like:

 these other [commune with nature] posts:

{ If you build it... }
{ Today, try shifting your perspective... }
{ Nature's Art }
{ Nature's Cathedral }
{ Natural Beauty }

  

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Today, try shifting your perspective to shift your perspective...

Today, try this exercise:  TRY SHIFTING YOUR PERSPECTIVE IN ORDER TO SHIFT YOUR PERSPECTIVE. - By this, I mean physically change your “normal” viewing position and see what you discover.  Find something in nature if you can –a flower, a tree, a blade of grass– and focus on it from this new viewing position. Take a few quiet moments and let flow whatever memories or associations come up...don’t edit, just let them flow and observe.

Often, not only will this practice shift the way you perceive that particular object, you will notice it extending to other areas of your life, as well.

I took a few moments to lie down on the stone path in my garden – (Yes…actually flat on my stomach.) and was delighted to discover a whole other world there —a world I did not know existed, right there at my feet. 

Each of these intricate little beauties measures just 1" across and some even less.

To think — I had passed by them hundreds of times before without seeing all they had to offer!

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"If you build it. . .

                                     ...they will come."    

I think the magical thing about gardens is that they take on a life of their own.   

I mean, all I really did was put together a few plants, flowers and trees...and now I have this haven — this oasis in the middle of the city.  I was really struck by this fact today.  –All I had to do was set the stage and they arrived.

The French doors of my studio are open and I am sitting at my desk looking out to the fountain, I can see most of the garden from here.

The day started sunny, then a rogue rain cloud passed over and shared a bit of moisture with us.

This fellow was caught in the midst of  it as he was taking his morning bath.  As the rain showered down, he remained, continuing his grooming.  (I think he considered himself pretty fortunate.)

Before I knew it, the sun was out again and the visitors increased.

   

Butterflies, bumblebees and long-legged wasps stopped by.

Hummingbirds and songbirds came to say hello and to peruse the blossoms or to take a rest on the garden bench.   

In fact, it almost seemed as though an announcement went out:

"Hey!   She's got her camera out today

at 1720, stop by if you want some

exposure."     (This is L.A. after all.)

Truth be told, when I created this garden, I didn't really think about the "wildlife" it might attract.  I love flowers and trees and designing spaces for people to enjoy and that's what I was thinking about mostly.

That's why it seems such a huge side benefit and almost, well . . . "flattering" really. 
Each time a new creature comes to call -or moves in- it is thrilling.  It's like nature is giving a nod of approval to something I initiated.    And really, that's all I did.  

I am still in awe at the miracle of it all. –Just plant a seed and a beautiful flower will grow there one day. –Just stick that little sapling in the ground and one day you will be lounging in the shade of a mighty tree. 

There is such a peace and serenity that comes from nature — a connection to the Divine at the ready.  

In creating this little snippet of it here, I have reaped far more than I have sown, that much is for sure.   

Planting a garden is like knocking on Heaven's door and what has opened up to me is far more than I had ever imagined.

all images by LeAnn, l&l at home, our garden

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