Design a Garden for Your Soul and We'll Guess Your Age

By: Emily Maggrett
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Design a Garden for Your Soul and We'll Guess Your Age
Image: Kathrin Ziegler/DigitalVision/GettyImages

About This Quiz

What kind of garden would truly soothe your soul? Do you see yourself wandering a cliffside garden by the sea, gathering lupines in a straw basket? Or would you rather sit in a gazebo at twilight, sipping rosé and chatting on the phone?

Perhaps you'd like a garden so big you could get lost in it, like the garden from "The Shining" but less terrifyingly haunted. Or your tastes are humbler, and you'd be happy just to have a small yard to call your own.

Whatever your garden fantasy is, chances are it says something about the stage of life you're living in right now. Take this quiz if you'd like to find out if your fantasy garden matches your age! 

We'll quiz you on everything from water features to floral borders in order to figure out if you're in high school, your twenties, your thirties or older. Your color scheme preferences, stance on native plants and arbor preferences will tell us whether you just got your driver's license or wish you still got carded.

Don't let the grass grow under your feet — take this quiz!

First things first: how big will your garden be?
Average in size but high-maintenance
I want acres of garden, full of wild areas, knot gardens, secret gardens and lawns.
Large, but easy to keep under control
Small and simple!

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What kind of climate will your garden be in?
Somewhere tropical
Northern England or Scotland, close to the sea
I'd prefer a sunny Mediterranean climate.
USDA Plant Hardiness zones 5 through 8

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What is the color scheme for your garden?
Red, hot pink and yellow
Blue and purple
Autumn colors, such as gold, scarlet, orange, cream and pale pink
Green and white

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What style would your garden be?
Formal
Cottage-style
Whatever raises my home's equity
Eco-friendly

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What kind of trees you will have in your garden?
Banana trees
Larches
Oak trees
Whatever is native to my region

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Which type of water feature will you have in your garden?
A lake with canoes
Mermaid fountain
Lily pond
Stone birdbath

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Which kind of accent feature will you have in your garden?
Hedge maze
Seashell path
Abstract sculpture
Picket fence

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What kind of shrubs will you have in your garden?
Orchid bushes and giant ferns
Hydrangeas
Smoke bush
Juniper

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Will you grow any fruit?
Kumquats
Currants
Limes or cherries
Apples

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What kind of flowers will you have in your borders?
Impatiens
Lupines
Tulips
Shasta daisies

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What kind of cutting flowers will you grow in your garden?
Calla lilies
Snapdragons
Cosmos
Sunflowers and zinnias

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Will you have a rock garden area?
Yes! With a waterfall.
Heck yes! With ice plants.
Heck yes! With succulents.
No! Too much work.

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What kind of herbs will you grow in your garden?
Lemongrass and basil
Chives and rosemary
Cilantro and mint
Parsley, sage and thyme

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What kind of seating areas will you have in your garden?
An outdoor kitchen and dining room
A screened veranda
A gazebo
A nice iron bench

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What kind of scented plants will you have in your garden?
Gardenias
Lavender
Jasmine
Mint ground cover

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Will you plant native plants?
Not unless I love how they look.
I'll use a mix of native plants and plants that fit my color scheme.
I'll use a lot of native plants. They need less water than other types.
Exclusively! They're the easiest to maintain.

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Will you have a greenhouse? What will you grow in it?
Pineapples and orchids
No greenhouse for me!
Mushrooms and leafy greens
Tomatoes and peppers

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Which one of these butterfly-attracting plants will you grow?
Azaleas
Delphiniums
Nasturtiums
Bee balm

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Which of these exotic plants would you add to your garden?
Lotus
Japonica
Birds of Paradise
Hostas

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Which of these "ugly" vegetables would you add to your garden?
Tomatillos
Lemon cucumbers
Romanesco cauliflower
Kohlrabi

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Which of these types of lawn areas would you have in your garden?
Tennis lawn
Wildflower field
Bocce court
Neglected crabgrass

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Which season will show off your garden best?
Summer, because that's my lantanas and hibiscus go wild!
Spring, because that's when my irises flower.
Autumn, because of how my dahlias, oak leaves and pink stonecrop look together.
Winter, because I know how to plant for year-round visual interest.

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What kind of arbor would your garden have?
A giant rose-covered arch
A wisteria arbor
An interesting copper arbor draped in chocolate vines
I grow wine grapes on my arbor!

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When would you spend time in your garden?
Evenings and weekends
Weekday afternoons
Every Sunday
Early, before work

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What would you eat and drink in your garden?
Champagne and strawberries
Mint tea and cucumber sandwiches
Cocktails and charcuterie plates
Wine and leftovers

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Would you work on your garden alone, or with others?
My team of servants would take care of everything.
Alone!
I'd make my partner help.
I'll take all the help I can get.

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What kind of games would you play in your garden?
Badminton
Croquet
Bocce ball
Frisbee

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What kind of parties would you host in your garden?
Epic summer parties that go on until dawn
Tiny, wonderful tea parties and picnics
Big, fun gatherings for my family and friends
Chill barbecues

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What would you do alone in your garden?
Cut flowers and build stunning bouquets
Rock on my veranda and knit
Relax in the sun with a good book and big, frosty mojito
Sit in a lounge chair at twilight and drink a huge glass of wine

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What makes your garden special and unforgettable?
It's incredibly beautiful and contains dozens of fascinating areas to explore.
It's fresh seaside setting and delicate color scheming give it a unique romantic flavor.
It's vivid red, pink and gold colors look striking year-round.
It's not that special or unforgettable but I love it!

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