When the scent of peonies drifts on the May breezes in my garden, I’m reminded of my grandparents, who taught me how to deadhead petunias, save seeds,and harvest beans when they’re small and tender. The sweet fragrance always takes me back to a simpler time of feeling safe, loved and cherished.

There’s something to be said for the power of gardens to connect us to our pasts while nurturing us in the present. In an increasingly stressful world, gardens provide a feeling of sanctuary from the frazzled craziness most of us experience every week. It’s no surprise, then, that the concept of “nostalgia gardening” has been trending for the past several seasons.

Pulled from several garden styles with an emphasis on layered blooms, relaxed plantings and an old-fashioned, cottage garden feel, nostalgia gardens connect us with our histories. “I can remember vivid moments in my parent’s garden as a kid,” says landscape designer Kat Aul Cervoni, founder of Staghorn NYC and The Cultivation by Kat. “I was playing with my siblings and watching the beautiful light at sunset. It was magical. I think everyone has some version of this type of memory, whether it’s just walking down the street in the city and noticing a beautiful tree in the park.”

Whether you have a rambling backyard in the country or a tiny balcony in the city, there’s a way to embrace this serene style. Here’s how to create a nostalgia garden in your own little part of the world:

Ahead, our favorite plants for creating a nostalgia garden with the “it’s been here forever” feel:

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