Backyard benefits
Just because summer’s over doesn’t mean the fun has to end, writes Rose Betit.
Ahhh, the backyard! In the summer, it’s a place to unwind after a long work day, a place for countless hours of barbecues and alfresco dining under the sun or stars. It can be a retreat for solitude, the enjoyment of a great book or a comfortable hammock under a maple tree. It’s where kids romp barefoot under a sprinkler and play badminton or bocce.
Suddenly, September arrives with a new school year and a cool front. Many people simply accept the change of seasons and pack up the barbecue and badminton set. A rake will be brought out of storage in anticipation of the work to be done when the leaves fall. For most, that will be pretty much all the action the backyard gets until spring. Outdoor omnivorousness and excessive indulgence of the exterior comes to a screeching halt. Or does it? According to a 2009 study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, it shouldn’t. The study found a direct correlation between the overall wellbeing and leisure time spent outdoors (no matter the season) and the mental health of a population.
This is a message that isn’t lost on Westmount resident Katie Bridgman. Bridgman, an interior designer with her own company, Katie Charlotte Design, explains her love for all outdoor activities in her delightful backyard space.
“The deck and garden are crucial to our mental well-being,” she says. “Just being able to eat outside is a blessing and as soon as it’s warm enough in the spring, we will eat every meal we can out there.”
Her backyard boasts a spectacular deck with an inviting rectangular wooden table adorned with green succulent plants and hurricane lanterns. The deck overlooks a sumptuous garden of hydrangeas, lavender and a magnolia tree. Bridgman, who is originally from London, England, explains that the arrangement of the garden is based on the British secret garden. A walkway of large stepping stones invites us to the seating area. The space is tastefully done with muted tones that complement the surrounding nature.
“Eventually, we’ll add a fire pit,” she explains when asked if they do anything to provide warmth. Bridgman also suggests using cosy blankets, lanterns, hot drinks and maybe a heating lamp.
“Fall is gorgeous and our last time to watch the stars and enjoy the fresher air before winter.”
So she and her husband and house guests will be using the backyard nightly until the snow falls.
Danai Alexopoulos, co-founder of House of Chef James Mitchell, feels that the best time for backyard fun is when it’s snowing. “We use it mostly in the fall and winter … we love having fires in our fire pit and cooking over hot coals. The smell of winter mingled with wood burning and food cooking outside is wonderful,” she says.
Alexopoulos’s St-Lazare backyard is rustic, with a two-tiered wooden deck and a seating area that has ample space to host 25 people. A pergola houses a fire pit and four Adirondack chairs, a movie centre and bar. It’s not hard to imagine being swept away by the country charm of this backyard. Throw in the hot tub and it’s downright irresistible.
“We prefer cooler weather and especially blizzards in our hot tub,” Alexopoulos says enthusiastically about one of her favourite features of her yard. “It adds a lot of relaxation. So does a fire pit, outdoor pillows or some wooden Adirondack chairs.”
Colleen Jorgensen and her husband Mark LeGassick agree on the importance of spending time outdoors. Their enchanting backyard space, prepped for fall by Montreal artist and home stager Tina Mitchell, features a seating area with a firepit and plenty of pillows and warm blankets.
“I love what she did with the area under the pergola. It’s perfect for hosting dinner parties,” Jorgensen says about the single round table, painted antique white and decorated with cheerful yellow chrysanthemums and white pillar candles.
“And the outdoor theatre area is just right for snuggling up with someone you love,” she says.
“As an osteopath, I really believe in the healing power of the outdoors,” Jorgensen says.
“When my husband and I first moved in here, I was recovering from surgery and couldn’t go far from the house. Being able to be outdoors was essential to my recovery. I was very lucky to have that space.
“We use it long after summer is over. There’s no way you can sit out here and look out over the water, with sailboats passing by,” she says of the view of Lac St-Louis, “and not feel relaxed.”
Whether your yard is a veritable secret garden, hot-tub heaven or a cornucopia of outdoor cooking, it doesn’t really have to go away with the summer season. As Alexopoulos advised: “Keep in mind, this is your outdoor haven. Make it as unique as you are and a thing with passion and creativity.”
With the right mindset, it can still serve its purpose and get you into the great outdoors well into the fall and until the snow falls. After that, we’ll see.