Driving around through suburbia to see how the other half lives (more likely the other half per cent), one need go no further than cross the bridge onto Sovereign Islands Estate, Gold Coast, Queensland in Australia. Homes start here about $2ml and go up to about $10-15ml. Owners from a diversity of backgrounds and not all older retirees. Many quite young and still active in their professions.
Yet a trend on the new releases of the Estate is emerging. Home construction and landscaping has definitely turned towards the insular, dominant in-your-face structures and very Yang. Represented by huge overpowering angled structures of rendered concrete block and glass. Homes walled from the street and gated and landscaping resembling that of a dry desert climate (Yucca, Cordyline, Flax, Dracaenas and Ponytail Cycad to name some common plants in use). Gardens set amongst pebble, stone and pavers. No doubt relating to water restrictions and salt laden winds, but different in appeal to older more established residences on the Island where tropical gardens and palms abound.
Yet behind these walled gates internal gardens are more personal with use of topiary, figurines, clipped hedging and water features. Liriope and Buxus hedging bordering pathways. Formal and still dominantly Yang. I'm observing a deliberately Yang exterior camouflaging a Yin interior and personal domains. The owner wanting to lock out the outside world at their entry.
Many of these gardens are designed and constructed by professional landscapers modeling their personal style and choice of plant material. The gardens are them and not their owners and appear to bolt themselves onto the exterior of the house.
Yet these same gardens possess good Chi enhancement qualities. For example, they are healthy, not cluttered, offer diversity in shapes and colours, many follow curved lines, symbolism and water is present. They lock out external influences (the Sha Chi) and all homes back onto fresh flowing water.
I'm not trying to degrade these gardens. Some represent the best landscape practice on offer. Yet some present themselves as impersonal and is that a Yang trait?
Could harmony be instilled into surroundings where the owner chooses not to be? I say no. Maybe temporarily and that depends on the interest and connectiveness of the person maintaining it. I would advise the owner to find time and stamp something of themselves in their garden. Get a pet dog. For the birds, plant some flowering shrubs or an Australian native. Taking time out to visit a garden centre and share the coffee and scones with a plant or two to take home and finding somewhere to put it. Buy a shovel, watering can or a bag of mulch. You know, leave the kids playing ball in there somewhere.
Unfortunately these Yang styled gardens tend to remain picture perfect gardens and symbolise wealth, place and authority over their surroundings. The gardens are deliberately non personal, hopefully because of time constraints and not because the owners don't want any part of their inner personality seen for public display!
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