Careful garden design creates peaceful retreat

Sometimes the beauty of a garden draws people in for a visit, while other times the location is already a destination, and the surrounding garden creates the appropriate atmosphere.

I recently visited the Chapel Garden in Brandon that invites guests to slow down and take in the surrounding beauty of the space designed by Rick Fisher.

A small red structure in the center of the space is an actual chapel open to the public. It hosts weddings and other private events in a setting where color, texture and thoughtful design have created a peaceful retreat.

Greeting guests at the entrance to the garden is a stunning Crown of Thorns flower, known scientifically as Euphorbia milii. This tropical succulent has thorny, gray-green stems dotted with small, bright red blooms.

Crown of Thorns loves full sun and well-drained soil and grows well in a container that can be moved indoors during cold weather. It asks for little, thriving on neglect and tolerating the heat and humidity of Mississippi summers.

Stepping deeper into the garden, Encore Azaleas anchor the landscape with dependable color.

These remarkable shrubs are known for their repeat-blooming habit, offering bursts of pink, red and white flowers several times a year. They thrive in part sun to light shade and appreciate slightly acidic, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.

Rick has used these azaleas masterfully, blending their soft evergreen foliage with surrounding perennials to maintain structure and color even between bloom cycles.

A beautiful mix of annuals and perennials fills in the garden’s layers, creating ever-changing scenes as the seasons shift. The diversity of plants and thoughtful succession planting ensures something is always blooming.

Among these layers, the sage plants stand out as both beautiful and functional. Their fragrant foliage and tubular blooms are magnets for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Russian sage, or Salvia yangii, has tall spires of airy lavender-blue flowers that sway gently in the breeze.

This sun-loving perennial thrives in well-drained soil and tolerates drought once established, making it an excellent choice for Mississippi gardens. Its silvery-gray foliage glows in the sunlight, adding softness and a cooling effect to the landscape on even the hottest days.

One of my personal favorites in the Chapel Garden is the Chenille plant, scientifically called Acalypha hispida. This plant has fuzzy, bright red flower spikes that dangle like soft tassels, creating a whimsical focal point among the more structured plants.

Chenille plants love warm weather, thriving in full to partial sun and evenly moist, fertile soil. They do best with regular watering and benefit from frequent deadheading to encourage continuous blooms. In cooler weather, they can be overwintered indoors, making them a versatile choice for gardeners who want to enjoy their tropical charm year after year.

Rick’s Chapel Garden is a wonderful example of how thoughtful plant selection and design can transform a landscape into a sanctuary of peace and color.

Each plant performs a role, with some providing structure and others bringing movement, fragrance or bold splashes of color. Together, they create a harmonious whole that delights the senses.

Consider incorporating a few of these plants into your own landscape. Choose sun-loving species for bright spots and add plants with dependable color throughout the year. Mix in textural plants for fun and flair, and your own backyard can become a place of beauty, peace and inspiration.