Some gardeners find a haven among the marigolds and daffodils, plants they've nurtured in an attempt to create a peaceful sanctuary in their own yard.
With 33 years in the gardening industry, H. Buddy Williams, owner of the Merrifield Garden Center, helps people create gardens like that. A fountain creating the babbling brook sound is helpful.
"Water is very relaxing for the mind, soothing," Williams said.
Peggy Bier, one of the hosts of Channel 8's Gardening Advisors, agreed with Williams. They stood among the flowers at the Capital Home and Garden show on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Dulles Expo in Chantilly.
"Your garden is your sanctuary, just sit and enjoy nature," Bier said.
All weekend, the browsers came through the show looking at the hot tubs, patio furniture, pools, windows, greenhouses and pool tables at the show which featured "ideas to go." Throughout the weekend, there were presentations by television personalities Matt Fox, Shari Hiller and Peter Walsh, an appearance by The Renegade Gardener Don Engebretson, design expert Karl Lohnes, and 13 "Dream Gardens," created by area landscape companies.
Although Williams remembers helping the Merrifield Fire Station build a memorial garden after 9/11, he's seen trees planted as a living memorial over the years.
"A lot of grandparents come in and buy a tree when a grandchild is born," he said.
To Susan Hernandez, associate designer at J. Buckley & Associates of Burke, it's just a matter of looking nice. In their backyard designs, "we have certain materials we like to work with, we use the flagstones a lot," she said.
West View, a custom design company from Shenandoah, Va., was at the show with a full arbor set up.
"This year it seems to be the arbors are really hot," said Jayson Lane, marketing representative. He pointed to their structure that resembled a trellis for the yard. It's especially popular among new home owners that don't have much tree cover in the yard.
"This gives them a little shade, it's almost like an outdoor room," Lane said.
Shannon Reed of Professional Grounds had a theory why the gardens were becoming more popular.
"A lot of people are spending more time at home, they aren't traveling as much," he said.
Springfield resident Allyson Schafter was a new homeowner in getting ideas.
"I'm a new homeowner, I just came to see what's available," she said, with possible future plans for "a hot tub or fountain."
Vienna resident Melissa Sharifi was with Broad Run, a company that specializes in creating a custom spot in small spaces like townhouse backyards. She was talking with customers from Arlington, Reston and Alexandria "where space is limited," she said.
A trend in the area now is to build a big house on a small lot, without much of a yard. Sharifi said some houses are taking up to 75 percent of the lot now.
"You want to maximize your lot," Sharifi said.
A Fairfax Station resident, Mrs. Villanueva, was in with her children giving a gardening lesson.
"We love being outdoors, that type of aesthetic quality is important," Villanueva said.