Perennial Festival will show how to make most of your space

We all need to spend more time in our gardens. The benefits to body and soul are many. Planting, watering and weeding burn considerably more calories than watching TV. Strolling through the garden at the end of a long, hard day is a great way to relieve stress.

When we grow our own fruits, vegetables and herbs, we control the amount of chemicals applied while they grow. And harvesting food for dinner gives a gardener a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

I am lucky enough to have a large garden that serves a variety of functions. I find respite in my shade garden filled with lush hostas and other shade plants when I need to power down. A quick early morning stroll through the sunny areas in my landscape filled with brightly colored blooms gets me going better than any cup of coffee.

Hidden spaces are perfect for enjoying a book undisturbed on a summer afternoon. And my deck does double duty: a place for relaxing with family and friends and the spot for my earth boxes filled with veggies. Whether you have a tiny balcony or a large backyard, you can have a lovely garden full of the spaces just right for you and your family.

The Planter's Palette will show you how to make the most of your landscape at this year's Perennial Festival, Garden Spaces.

Beginning Saturday, July 11, and continuing through Sunday, July 19, you can explore 13 staff-designed gardens that demonstrate the many ways in which people find joy in their garden spaces.

Learn how to make the most of a deck or patio. Teal and topaz containers overflowing with flowers in pink, purple and white take center stage. A tiny balcony is the perfect spot for a fairy garden. Enjoy the fantasy-filled garden - the young and young at heart will enjoy this latest trend in gardening.

Want to take a vacation, but don't want to spend the money? Turn your backyard into a vacation and get away every day. Bright colors predominate a Mexican garden filled with pottery, plants and garden structures.

If Mexico isn't the vacation spot of your dreams, take a 'staycation' in the tropics. The lush foliage of tropical plants, the sound of water, and bamboo accents will take you to a favorite island destination.

Explore two gardens that show spaces in which to relax. The tranquillity garden features a plant-filled space for yoga. A fountain adds the soft sound of moving water and an outdoor painting encourages the mind to wander. Or peek inside our version of a Japanese teahouse - a perfect spot for meditation.

If you depend on your garden to energize you, look for fun combinations of brightly colored blooms and foliage. This garden also addresses a challenge many gardeners face: designing a cohesive space with areas in sun and part shade.

A garden can also nourish the body as well as the soul. The edible garden demonstrates how easy and pretty edible gardening can be - even in a small space.

If you have young children, ideas abound in our garden space for children. Kid-friendly plants surround spaces for exploration and discovery. Don't miss the colorful pigs!

Need a little more romance in your life? Get ideas to create a romantic space in your garden. White blooming and fragrant flowers are featured in this garden.

Experience nature in your backyard when you garden for birds, bees and butterflies. Plants that provide food and shelter predominate. See how easy it is to have a tunning garden space while providing a habitat for our winged friends.

Conserving water is becoming a priority for many homeowners. Learn how easy it is to plant a rain garden in your backyard, and keep precious rainwater on your own property.

Take daily, staff-guided tours through the gardens or pick up a map for a self-guided tour. Get some good gardening education with daily demonstrations and classes. Special events offer something for everyone. Bring one or two season-worn garden tools and we'll sharpen them for free from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 11. Attend a special Mother Daughter Fairy Garden Tea Party at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, or Sunday, July 19.

For a complete schedule of events, visit The Planter's Palette Web site at planterspalette.com. Click on "calendar" then "Perennial Festival."

•Diana Stoll is a master gardener and retail manager of The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield, IL 60190. Call (630) 293-1040 or visit planterspalette.com.