DAVIS, Calif. — Gardeners take to heart life’s cycle of love and loss. Each spring, they find joy in new beginnings while letting go of the past. That bittersweet balance is nature at work, the essence of feng shui.
Huei Young’s magical Asian garden has become a local landmark in north Davis.
A feng shui expert, Young has dedicated most of her life to living in harmony with nature. Her garden brims with her positive energy. But this spring follows a winter of personal loss.
Frank Young, her husband, died Feb. 10 from health issues. A direct descendent of the city’s first Chinese family, he was 86 and had lived in Davis all his life. The accomplished draftsman was also an Army veteran and worked for Aerojet and UC Davis for many years. With Huei’s help, he recovered from a devastating 1997 spinal cord injury to become a beloved volunteer, preparing and delivering food to the needy at Davis Community Meals.
Huei has always credited her feng shui garden with helping her husband’s recovery. In his final months, she again turned to her garden for solace.
She converted the garage of their midcentury modern home into an “oasis room” with a constant view of the meditation garden.
“It doesn’t look like it was a conversion, but (part of) the original design of the house,” she said. Frank’s oasis room features a bathroom with a roll-in shower and other amenities for a hospice patient.
“I chose warm, cheerful colors for the room, in contrast to the white, sterile rooms that so many patients stay in during their recovery,” she said.
After Frank’s death, Huei turned her attention back to the garden and her annual spring tours. The chance to share her passion has become a spring ritual, benefiting patients at Shriners.
“I have gone through a tough time,” she said. “Frank’s birthday is on the 11th of April, so I have garden tours every weekend.
“The tours will benefit the hospital’s Comprehensive Cerebral Palsy Program that diagnoses and works to maximize the mobility of the treated children, through surgery, therapy and mechanical aids,” Huei said. “One hundred percent of the money is going to the program.”
As for the garden, it’s more beautiful than ever with its mix of succulents, Japanese maples and junipers. Cyclamen, freesias and other spring flowers add bursts of energetic color.
A traditional wooden bridge arches gracefully over a small pond. Bright red Chinese lanterns dance in the Delta breeze above the wrap-around porch. The soothing sound of water blocks out any distractions.
“I think my garden brings people peace and tranquility,” she said. “When they have peace, they are happy.”