Favorite gardening music

If you could wave the magic wand and have an outdoor surround sound system to play your favorite music while you're in your gardens, what would you like most to listen to? Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything like that, I just open a window and turn the volume up whenever I can. (But I can dream of such a system!) DH has even said it would be possible to put speakers out for me, not surround, but better than nothing! Another one of the projects on that forever list!

My tastes vary with what I'm doing. If I'm working in the orchids I like quieter things like Trio Rococo's Norwegian Wood, maybe some Chopin with ocean sounds. If I'm pulling weeds out of the roses, I tend to want some rousing tunes on hammered dulcimer. For some reason the butterfly garden calls for Pachelbel, either as is or the "solitudes" ones with the different water sounds in the background, like streams, rain or the ocean.

Do any of you have any favorites?

Your choices in music sound beautiful! I have to admit, my favorite thing to listen to while I'm gardening is an Astros game. I have a wind up, theoretically-solar-powered radio that I take outside with me when I am gardening and a game is on. Otherwise I just enjoy the birds singing.

~ Marylyn

Anything by Chuck Berry or The Doors. Shovel pruning is accompanied by "This is the end" by Jim Morrison. Tending to my roses is done while listening to Nat King Cole's "Ramblin Rose", my Mama's favorite song. Whenever I go beserk and buy alot of plants I listen to Patsy Clines "Crazy" because then I wonder where on earth I'll plant all those puppies. And any song by Johnny Cash, always and forever no matter what I'm doing.

Anne

Flamenco and/or classical guitar
DINO - The Essential Dean Martin

Gail

Golden oldies seem to help my attitude when I'm out attacking the weeds, which is a lot. We have a bumper crop of nut grass, milkwee and dallis grass this year. Fortunately, we have outside speakers so I can crank it right on up. Last weekend was a hoot - I was digging weeds with my music on, and both neighbors behind me were outside and had their own selections going - one was a Spanish radio station and the other was teenage whatever stuff!!

ROCK AND ROLL from the 60's and 70's.

I have a small stereo system in my yard in my big tent. Two sides are open, so I can really boom out across my yard. I have at least 50 CD's out there to chose from, and when I get tired of those, I come into the house and trade them out for others. I've got LOTS of music! LOL!

I love to listen to Dougie MacLean, Marc Cohn, Jimmy Buffett, James Taylor, Al Stewart, Jim Croce, John Prine, Kim Carnes, Eric Clapton, Keb Moe, and many more of my favorites I can't recall. I also keep a collection of 'new age' music for the more peaceful tasks, such as weeding. When I'm sifting soil and doing active things, I like a little bounce!

Given the chance I'd have outdoor speakers throughout the yard.
Music choices would be Opera, Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The Big Band era, Jazz and the likes of John Denver would also be good.

I'm just lovin' all the great music that you're listening to. However, when I'm out gardening, I relish the solitude and quiet. I live in the woods, on a lake, and love just listening to the water, the wind, the birds and the occassional annoyed squirrel when one of my cats is in the yard. Gardening is my escape from everything else and my time to become one with the world. (I'm really not that deep.....but I do love the sounds of silence.)

marie, the older I get the more likely I am to turn down, or turn off the music. I guess my old brain can't manage more than one thing at a time. We certainly have our share of nature's music here... eagles, ravens, squirrels, humming birds, pine siskens, jays... and the not so natural dogs barking and children on their go carts!

James Taylor, Carole King, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Jim Croce,...singer /songwriters from the late '60's &early '70's....love'em!

Sounds like my kind of music, Melody! I really like vocalists and their lyrics. I'm an old Harry Chapin fan, as well.

Yep, we lost Harry long before he was due to go...and he was such a good person...donated tons of money to help kids and homeless.

I've got most everything he ever released, but some are on vinyl. I have a two disc collection that is really nice. We ought to trade some garden music, Melody!

I'd pull weeds to "Ride of the Valkaries" or something equally robust!

When I clean house, I like to play loud, invigorating music... even something like the soundtrack from FlashDance.

And I have lots of Native American music and Shakuhachi - The Japanese Flute for something soft and contemplative.

That sounds like a pretty good collection, as well, Darius. I enjoy a little Robert Crumb and the Cheap Suit Serenaders when I need a little energizing!

I have a battery operated boom box that I pack around with me. When I mow I have a little CD player and earphones.

I mostly listen to rock music, but I can listen to almost anything as long as it's not country or rap.

I can listen to almost anything for about a half hour, then I start looking for a change. I'm not too tolerant of really heavy metal rock, or rap, or grunge, or new country. For some reason I have a soft spot for the old catterwalling country music, though I don't listen to it often anymore.

dead silence (no, that's not a rock band) LOL. i talk to myself so much when i garden that unless it's quiet i can't hear the answers to my questions. you think i'm kidding! housework-now that's something else. josh stone, bonnie raitt, boz scaggs, allman brothers, gershwin, sinatra, billie holliday, carly simon (boys in the trees album) now i can vacuum to that. baby! debi

So much good music mentioned. I'm in to a broad variety of music, but lately my gardening music of choice has been bluegrass(before that it was Motzart, especially flute quartets!). So glad to see this thread because there are some lines from a song I've been wanting to share. The song is "When the Piney Rose Blooms" by Sarah Perkle and Jeff Barbara.

My name is Anna Carter
It's a simple life I have led.
I've lived on this mountain every day of 90 years.
This winter is the longest,
that ole February sky is cold and grey,
and I labor to draw every breath.
But, I hope the Lord will hear me when I pray:

Chorus:
Oh please don't call me home until the summer
For in May this valley is a shining jewel
I long to see the colors of my childhood
I'm waiting for the piney rose to bloom

I've tended the flowers
that my mother planted when I was born
and they come up faithfully every spring
to remind me of her everlasting love.
I know that mother's waiting in Heaven,
But I can't go when the world's in winters sleep.
I want the flowers to be blooming
to comfort my poor family in their grief.

The first time I heard the song it was performed live, and I sat there in the audience with tears streaming down my face. If I make it to 90, I can certainly see myself singing a similar tune. Neal.

Anything Elvis, or the Gypsy Kings!

None...I prefer my time in the garden to be quiet....the sounds of nature are enough for me
Now cleaning house or cooking dinner is a completely different story ;-)

Neal, that's beautiful. tnx for posting it.
Inside, when cleaning up, I like boisterous music. The soundtrack from Cirque de Soleil will rock your house. LOL

I rarely go into the garden without a portable CD player, my earphones and a good audio book, but if it were music, it'd be Sarah Vaughn Sings the Beatles. If I had any of my fav. classical on I'd have to stop and listen. Then I wouldn't get anything done. ;)

Leslie

This message was edited Aug 29, 2005 10:04 PM

oh my i have a list!!! I LUV MUSIC and to sing like no one can hear me! if they can i dont care-i luv all kinds of music even rap-oh i dont like classical-ewwww!
CD'S:
JOHNNY MELLENCAMP over and over and over!!!
JOURNEY
REHAB
SPONGE

tgif, i know you can't read this right now (no,power, ) but i feel in my bones that you are safe and the day that you post on this thread is a day i'm waiting for. prayers to you. debi

I like the music of nature. That's the only time there are no phones, etc. Just me, my gardens and God. I do sometimes think of the hymn, "In the Garden."
Below are the words, aren't they wonderful?!?!

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses


And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known


He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing


And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known


I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me be falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling


And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known



- Words and Music by Charles Austin Miles, 1913

Yes! I've always loved that song. Thanks for posting the lyrics.

To all my wonderful DG family - I have very limited access to on line here, so I'll rely on ya'll to pass the word on that DH and I are doing just fine. I'm sure that sooner or later, I'll be back for real - but for now, I'm just glad to be able to get this much out. My server, futuresouth, was based in New Orleans, that should tell you where I stand for "on line" in the near, and maybe far, future. I miss you all, but I shall return!!!

I hope all in Katrina's path did as well as, or better than, I did.

love to all,

ginni

Take good care of yourself, ginni. So glad to hear from you. We'll be here waitin' for you, diggin' in the garden and listening to tunes!

ginni! heard this morning you were safe and sound-i've been so worried! it is SO good to hear from you-we'll be waiting on ya! debi

my neighbor has outdoor speakers that look like big rocks; i think there's speakers in every bed. she really does have outdoor surround-sound, and fortunately for me, a good music collection :) i'll whistle if i'm liking a particular song and she'll turn it up.
marsha

There are three choices, depending on what we are doing...CLASSIC rock for gettin down and dirty, the hard work.... Contemporary Christian for a casual day or strolling, and Light Jazz if we are relaxing, and listening to the sound of the waterfall!

mel

Wonderful waterfall!

Gorgeous, Weezingreens. What is the plant, light bluish-green on top of the waterfall?

The plant on the left side of the waterfall is Lambs Ear. Very tough little plant... grows like bermuda down here! We just planted it last spring 04, and by spring 05 it had filled in nicely! We do have to cut flower stalks off twice a year, but that's an easy job for our daughter! The kids love lambs ear, cause it feels like.... hmmmm maybe a lambs ear... super soft!

TXMel, I like to feel it too. I planted some last year and then divided it this year. Some of it did well and some died in the heat of summer. I suspect it didn't get enough water in our terribly hot and dry summer.

You know, I had alot of it die back this year too! I think it will come back, though!

I dream of the sound of the waterfall, the sounds of the chirping birds. But sadly not in reality!! At least, these sunbirds provide me with their music early in the morning before the traffic wakes up for the day. And sometimes mosquitoes on 'silent mode' pricks! So, for the next few minutes, I find myself immersed in the sound of me scratching about!

In reality, I like to listen to old songs - I can't put on the stereo system at home and be out in the garden listening as traffic is a nuisance. That is enough "music" that can drive me crazy - if I am not immersed in gardening!! I like the radio to be with me. I sometimes play a tape of my favourite songs from Hindi or Kannada films - am not able to develop a taste for jazz, rock and the likes.

Dinu

Dinu, sometimes, on windy days, the leaves rustle in the cottonwood trees in my yard. On those days, I can only listen to my music when I am close to the stereo. Perhaps that is like your sounds of traffic... a familiar background noise.