This is our little oasis—a spot to loaf in the sun, sink into the shade, and enjoy the scent of honeysuckle under the towering elder trees. The lanterns are strung up for real candlelight, and for the summer evenings, we sometimes add a few drops of citronella oil to keep the mosquitoes at bay. For those with sharp eyes, the black pillow on one of the chairs isn't a pillow at all—it’s our cat, Murkla, claiming her favorite lounging spot.

At the back, a homemade raft wall gives structure to the wild growth, supporting a cascade of ivy and honeysuckle while keeping the elder trees from taking over completely. Every year, we trim them back, just enough to maintain the balance between cultivated coziness and untamed nature. Beyond the elder trees, the landscape softens into sprawling blackberry thickets, which eventually give way to a wild meadow of whatever plants the season decides to bring.

This year, we expanded the space, digging in three new rafts to suspend lanterns from rope. Over time, we hope a climbing rose will claim the outermost pole while honeysuckle weaves its way up another, wrapping the space in greenery and blooms.

By day, it’s a lush hideaway. By night, (we’ll share a picture of that in another post), the flickering lanterns turn it into a truly magical retreat.

We were initially hesitant about suspending lanterns—what if the wind caught them? Would they slide around? Would we need to fix them in place? But as it turns out, using natural fiber rope holds them firmly, preventing any slipping. Even in strong winds, the lanterns don’t swing wildly; they simply sway gently, adding to the charm of the space.

This is where we unwind, where long summer evenings stretch out lazily, and where the line between garden and wilderness feels beautifully blurred.

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