By REBECCA SLOAN

By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
The desire to create a backyard paradise continues to grow among homeowners who don't want to travel too far to get away from it all.
And yet the definition of backyard paradise can vary greatly depending on an individual's personality.
It can also fluctuate according to a person's mood.
For example, when your head is aching after a long day at the office, sitting quietly and communing with nature is sublime, but tinkling wind chimes and angel statuary might not be the best backdrop for a festive patio party with burgers and margaritas.
Is it possible to create a backyard paradise that answers a variety of purposes? Can you devise a setting that's perfect for Sunday morning meditations as well as Saturday night barbecues?
With a little help from feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of positioning objects for personal enhancement and well-being, the answer is yes.
In the book "Feng Shui in the Garden," feng shui expert Nancilee Wydra reveals tips for creating a backyard paradise that successfully blends a variety of themes.
Whether you want to entertain guests, meditate and reflect, play with the kids, minimize stress, foster romance or enhance productiveness, Wydra offers feng shui design tips to help make it happen.
ENTERTAINING ZONE
For some people, the idea of a backyard paradise isn't solitude and tranquility. It's a lively evening with good friends, good food and lots of laughter.
If you love to entertain but don't want to add an extra party room onto your house, consider creating an outdoor "room."
This gathering place should be easily accessible and should encourage guests to linger and engage in conversation.
Key elements include:
A decorative wall, low hedge or flowering trellis to provide a cozy alcove.
A fire pit. A fire pit acts as a natural magnet to draw people in and keep them gathered round. Barbecue or bar areas also encourage people to gather round.
Plenty of seating to accommodate different-size groups.
Plants with triangular leaves such as holly or snap peas. Feng shui teaches that the triangle is a stimulating element because it symbolizes fire.
Vibrantly colored flowers to energize guests. Feng shui teaches that red and violet stimulate conversation while yellow helps increase clarity of expression.
REFLECTING ZONE
No backyard paradise would be complete without a place to meditate and ponder the deepest mysteries of life.
This reflecting zone should be in a small, secluded area, such as a spot that's hidden among the trees. In this zone, less is more, so stick to one or two types of plantings to keep things clean and simple.
Key elements include:
Gently curving lines.
An inviting path that leads to a meditative focal point such as a water garden, a large rock or a sundial. Stones, sand or low-growing ground cover should serve as a backdrop for this focal point. A circle of abundance (an area filled with one planting) should surround the focal point.
Yellow and orange flowers. Feng shui teaches that yellow is the color or clarity of vision and orange is the color of communication.
PLAY ZONE
It's no secret that kids don't like to sit still. Stick them in front of a trickling fountain and ask them to meditate on the flow of the water, and chances are they'll look at you like you've got rocks in your head.
When little ones are running loose in the backyard garden, most of them don't want to relax and ponder the beauty of nature.
Instead, they want to explore and conquer it.
That's why every home with kids ought to have a zone that's devoted to play and adventure.
Play zones should have open spaces for running and jumping as well as nooks and crannies for hiding and seeking. They should also be in a place that can be easily monitored by an adult.
Key elements include:
Trees or rocks to climb on.
Soft, grassy or sandy spots on which to fall.
Playhouses or forts for hiding. Bushes and trees with weeping branches also make great hiding places.
Sandboxes filled with toys to spur the imagination.
Small garden plots where kids can plant things. Taking care of plants will help little tykes appreciate nature. Plant things kids can eat, such as strawberries, peas or tomatoes, and flowers that can be picked to use in bouquets, such as pansies, snapdragons or daisies. Choose planting with vibrant colors and unusual shapes.
A sprinkler or hose that allows kids to water the garden and also allows them to spray themselves to cool off on hot summer days.
STRESS-RELIEF ZONE
Whether it's your in-laws‚ annoying habits or the daily commute that has you biting your nails, don't reach for the panic pill until you've taken a few deep breaths and retreated to your backyard's stress-relief zone.
The stress-relief zone should mimic the gentle safety of the womb. This space should be nestled in an L-shaped corner or under a tree or near a windowless wall.
Key elements include:
An entrance that attracts light and lures you inside.
A wind chime for soft, tinkling sounds.
Shapes that are wavy or curvy.
Low-growing, serene plants such as ferns or moss.
Earth tones such as terra cotta, browns and muted yellows.
Ground cover that muffles sound, such as pine needles, wood mulch or sand.
A natural wall or ceiling made from a trellis. Grow scented plants such as wisteria or clematis to climb the trellis or create a calming, scented ceiling with a piece of lattice.
ROMANCE ZONE
If your relationship with your significant other could use some spark, then why not ask Mother Nature for a little assistance?
A garden can be one of the most romantic places on earth, after all.
The romance zone of your backyard paradise should feature a lush, inviting gateway that leads to a gently curving path that's perfect for strolling. The path should be wide enough for two and should be soft to step upon.
Ideal path materials include sand, grass or smooth stone.
Other key elements include:
A private area with seating just for two under a canopy of trees or beside a lattice wall.
Plants with intoxicating fragrances and brilliant colors that evoke emotion, such as roses, lavender, lilac, honeysuckle, jasmine, azalea, gardenia and rhododendron. Fruit trees and other male/female plantings are also recommended. Feng shui also teaches that orange flowers and trees with orange-tinged bark affirm togetherness, and that rose, violet and orange invite tender feelings.
Special symbols of your love.
FERTILITY ZONE
A life that is fertile is a life that is filled with richness and abundance.
If your life feels barren and you desire more satisfaction in your relationships or in your career, do not hesitate to incorporate a fertility zone into your backyard paradise.
The fertility zone should inspire confidence and determination while still encouraging patience and serenity.
Key elements include:
A flourishing abundance of vegetation in all shapes, sizes and textures. Choose plants that correspond with your desires. Feng shui teaches that geraniums are a symbol of triumph through persistence, chives absorb negativity, oak trees convey survival and palm trees symbolize victory.
A central water element. This water element should be slightly hidden in the heart of the garden, awaiting discovery.
A curved stone or black, curvy object to symbolize determination.
Pink flowers to ease anxiety.
Yellow flowers for greater personal connection.
The absence of defined or easily detected borders. Ivy plants that gently spill over the garden's edge.
Source: "Feng Shui in the Garden," by Nancilee Wydra.