Don’t head indoors to avoid the dog days of summer. Instead, transform your therapeutic healing garden into an inviting, cooler oasis that continues to serve as a destination for residents and families.

We depend on nature to keep us cool, naturally. The sound and movement of both air and water will drive down the temperature – or the perceived temperature – in your garden, creating a refreshing space that people continue to enjoy despite the heat of the summer.

The nonprofit Trees Forever captured stunning results during a 2010 temperature-measuring experiment designed to quantify the impact of trees’ shade. Program manager Meredith Borchardt explained, “The most dramatic temperature difference came from a reading taken by volunteers on top of a picnic table. The tabletop was a scorching 144 degrees in the sun, but only 89 degrees on the shaded part. That’s a whopping 55 degree temperature difference!”

In addition to creating shade by blocking the sun’s rays, the trees’ leaves give off moisture, which helps to cool the air. This movement of water from plants, water bodies and soil back into the air is an important part of the water cycle called evapotranspiration. Hearing the rustling of leaves also signals the air’s movement to the brain, giving the listener the sense of feeling cooler.

The sound from water features triggers the impression of feeling cooler as well, much like the sound of air movement. From the simple to the elaborate, water features could include a multi-tiered bird bath, a self-contained overflowing rock fountain or even a small waterfall that flows into a fish pond.

Garden embellishments such as cabanas, ceiling fans and wind chimes can create similar effects, albeit without Mother Nature.

Including softer colors in the garden, such as the pastels found in coneflowers or the contrasting greens of ornamental grasses, is another way to add to the illusion of a cooler environment.

If possible, to feel refreshed we also suggest drinking a cool glass of lemonade while enjoying the dog days of summer from your therapeutic healing garden.