Why wait until you can squeeze a vacation into your schedule to escape to Kauai or Bali?
If you can just walk outdoors and dive into your lagoon-style pool or climb into a hammock and fall asleep listening to the rustle of palm fronds, you're there. Mentally, anyway.
It's not that hard to surround yourself with a garden that feels like your favorite tropical island.
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| Norm Plate |
| Indonesia and beyond in San Jose |
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Luxuriant foliage is usually a major component in an exotic garden — even cold-climate gardeners can substitute hardy look-alikes for subtropicals to get the effect. Architecture and furnishings also convey the mood. Not quite ready to transport your entire backyard to Bali? Test-drive the idea first: Check out our small do-it-yourself Balinese meditation platform.
Click on the links at left to find inspiration for your own backyard escape.
More great backyard projects