Turning gardens into healing sanctuaries: Walnut Creek to host landscape architect who believes in nature as 'de …

By Janice De Jesus Contra Costa Times

WALNUT CREEK -- Sarah Sutton's no stranger to the relationship between healing and nature. Growing up on the Peninsula, Sutton and her sisters appreciated the wonders of nature -- forests, landscapes, beaches and gardens. Then and now, Sutton had always regarded the earth's treasures as a natural art form that helped to calm the mind, body and spirit.

"Our Dad would take us out to be immersed in nature, whether it was hiking in the forest, walking in Huddart Park, the beaches along Half Moon Bay," said Sutton. "We were three little girls tidepooling."

From her father, Sutton learned the art of de-stressing in nature -- something she's cultivated as a landscape architect, ecologist and artist.

The author of "The New American Front Yard: Kiss Your Grass Goodbye" will be presenting "Healing Places, Restorative Spaces: Creating Landscapes and Gardens that Sustain Ourselves and the Planet." The book received a Silver Nautilus Award for Green Living/Sustainability and an Honorable Mention Award at the 2013 SF Green Book Festival).

At the April 30 event at The Gardens at Heather Farm, Sutton will show people how to regard home gardens and landscapes as much more than window dressing -- they can be sustainable, restorative healing places.

Sutton admits that while she grew up reading Sunset Magazine, which first instilled in her a love for gardens, she initially wasn't an avid gardener at the time. She thought about becoming a commercial artist but a college counselor pointed her toward pursuing a degree in landscape architecture. Suddenly, it all made sense--this career integrated her childhood love for nature with her love of art.

Sutton, who is also a Certified Natural Health professional, will discuss how garden designs and what you plant in your garden can help you create a healing sanctuary in suburbia. Topics will include how to holistically manage your garden, front yard foraging, regenerative landscape design and using Feng Shui principles in your garden.

While Sutton has painted oil and watercolor pieces, she considers the healing design projects she's helped create to be a different kind of art medium. She's applied holistic garden design principles to park plazas and gardens for family and friends.

Suzanne R. Schrift, a longtime colleague and a friend, said Sutton has a broad understanding of ecologically sound landscape principles and cutting edge practices, and is committed to teaching people how to think and act sustainably in the landscape.

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Turning gardens into healing sanctuaries: Walnut Creek to host landscape architect who believes in nature as 'de ...