This describes my view of gardening to a tea!

This article was published in my local home and garden section of the newspaper this past Saturday. After reading it, I felt like the writer had described my feelings perfectly. I just thought you all would enjoy reading the article also. Does it describe your feeling on gardening too?

Gardening a job for the lone ranger
No agenda is required, and there's no one around needing to be entertained.

By JOE LAMP'L
DIY Network

Gardening is one of those activities that is just as rewarding when done alone as it is when shared with someone else or when you join with others to share a common goal.

I'm just as happy doing it by myself as I am in a large group. Call me a loner but, honestly, I enjoy working in the garden alone, just me and my plants (and weeds; there are always weeds).

How often do you hear how therapeutic gardening is for the mind, body and soul?

If you love gardening, too, you know exactly what I mean. The simple act of getting your hands dirty can provide hours of pleasure and entertainment. No agenda is necessary and there is no one around who requires entertaining. The energy used to speak is replaced with the opportunity to listen, to think and to observe.

Sometimes the work is light and nothing really screams out for attention. And those times are worth relishing, too, even if they are few and far between. More often, I find that with so little time to actually spend in my garden, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of maintenance required – weeding, pruning and simple cleanup included.

As I've matured as a gardener I've even learned to see past all the messes as problems and to view them as opportunities. Now I celebrate the accomplishments when, in a few short weeks, a neglected garden shapes up into something of which to be proud.

On those days when it's more work-intensive, I simply put on my blinders and go to work. I've learned to "eat the elephant one bite at a time." Even gardeners like instant gratification – I get it by focusing on one particular area or task and staying with it. I see progress and become encouraged.

After several hours that seem like several minutes, I am invigorated. No doubt, I'm tired, but it's that good tired you get from doing something productive that you thoroughly enjoy. Even in the midst of focused intensity, the solitude allows me to really hear the birds, see the plants in a different way and smell the sweet scent of the earth once again.

So, as for the solo opportunities to spend time in my garden, or in any garden for that matter, I have learned to relish them. From a simple stroll with my morning coffee to a round of weeding in the afternoon sunshine, it is never really "work" to me. And I'd tell you not to tell my wife about that, but I suspect she already knows how I feel.

Donna

Oh boy, Donna ..
The article has peg'd it precisely - these sentiments, in particular ..

To a tea!! I love to be out and about in my gardens, and see what all my children have been doing during my absences. Just to listen to the birds, the bees, and the occasional traffic sound, or the sounds of children playing nearby, it is one of the best jobs I have ever had.

And who is the writer deserving credit for this excellent article?-

Nevermind- found it on the top;-)

Maggie

This message was edited Jan 10, 2007 9:16 AM

I loved the article. Thanks so much for sharing it.

Speaking of sharing.......Magpye thanks for your landscaping series. Very nice! I've got a project in mind for Spring and am getting lots of good ideas. What did you use for the walls on the raised beds? Rock with mortar? I love the look.

((thank you for the sweet lil compliment, marie_))
Yes ma'am .. used the native rock from here on our property, and quite a few that we'd picked up from several creek beds that aren't too far from us + mortar.

((huggs))

- Magpye

I'm so glad that you all enjoyed this article as much as I did. There is not just one sentence that I loved, everyone of them just screamed at me saying "that's you".

I guess sometimes, something just grabs you and this article did that for me.

Magpye, I love what you have accomplised in that spot of your garden. You did a wonderful job and I bet you enjoyed every minute you spent on it. It wasn't work, it was pleasure....right?

Donna

Total agreement from me too. Also, Magpye what is the time elapsed on your photos? Nice job there, I am in the process of planning out my gardens, walkways, shrubs, bushes, plants and.....well stuff. I don't want to give you all the 'before' picture until I have at least some of the 'after' in place. It's just too ugly this year. [sigh] A blank (albeit dirt) slate waiting for the painter's brush.

"eat the elephant one bite at at time" -- I should write that in concrete and make a stepping stone just off the porch!!!!!

"eat the elephant one bite at at time" - YES - that is what I have been working on for the past year - really enjoying it all and not being overwhelmed by all that work waiting to be done. I think there has been some improvement - I can now focus on one job and take time to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when it is done. That is really gardening and not just "doing chores". For years I kept big vegetable gardens, growing all for my family, canning, freezing, etc. Now they are all grown up - now just me and my husband at home. Last year I grew just tomatoes and cucumbers and lots and lots of flowers. It is more like fun now and less like a second job. I have always loved growing things and intend to spend the rest of my life doing it because it's FUN (it will be nice when my job gets out of the way of "my real life" with the plants!).

I need to frame the article....no one cares about "my" gardening time except me!

My gardening is my theropy spelled wrong sorry. I plan all winter and work on it all the rest of the time. It is just like my housework. I never get it done but there are some pretty things to look at. I am one of these people that are interested in too many things. Oh well back to work. Happy Gardening all!!!!! Bev

Bev, I know what you mean about being interested in too many things!! I want to do everything and never have enough time to do it all. lol

With the busy holidays overwith, then our big freeze and then don't forget the rain....I haven't had time to work in my garden much for the past few months. I'm biting at the bit. :-)
I know that most of the DG gardeners can't work outside during the winter, but for me, the gardening in my zone never stops. I need to keep up on the weeds that continue to grow and deadhead all the winter flowers. We've had some nice weather these past few days and I have done some gardening...but it was also time to finally assemble my new little Greenhouse that I got for Christmas....see I haven't even had the time to put that up either.

I need some garden time = garden theraphy.
Donna

I'm new so please forgive any computer fauxpax. So what do you use a greenhouse for in zone 10?
Cinda

Hello Cinda, and welcome to this wonderful garden site. I hope you enjoy it and decide to stay for awhile. :-)

What will I use this greenhouse for? Mostly to start seeds earlier and keep some of my tender plants warm and cozy during the winter. I know we don't get "that" cold, but if you've seen our weather this past month, we have lost many plants due to some unexpected freezing. Since I can grow tropicals and tender plants in my zone, it was very bad for many of my plants. I've lost several very nice plants too.

My new greenhouse is only 4'x6'...just a hobby size for me. lol Look here http://www.gardeners.com/Fast-Start-Greenhouse/default/StandardCatalog.GreenhousesSheds_CompactGreenhouses.33-240.cpd

Hope to see you around the forums,
Donna

Loosing plants is always so sad.Never having lived in a warm climate,I ask, Will they come back if the roots didn't freeze?
Cinda

Cinda,

Some of them may survive and many of them are toast for sure.

Since this was a rare occurance out here, our local newspaper and my local nursery newsletters, made a big deal about letting us gardeners know how to treat these plants. They told us "not" to cut off the dead foilage or remove any plants right now, as they might regenerate and come back. They also mentioned that the dead foilage will protect any more freezing temps we might have this month. It is hard to look at brown, dead looking plants right now, but they told us it was a "badge of gardening" to keep it as is for now.

Many of my neighbors, who are not real gardeners, pulled out all their damaged plants right away and replaced them. They didn't like the "look" in their yard. lol

Wish me luck that some of them will survive.
Donna

Donna, I go through this every winter and have for 62 years so brown folige does not bother me. It is the truth. IIt acts as protection. We are going through a terrible blizzard as I speak. We haven't had a good hard winter for several years so maybe some of my plants that like it will do better this Spring. We had an ice storm in Dec. and were without power for five and a half days. In Illinois you get it all. I am scaling down my garden and planting a lot of hostas which are no real care. My favorite thing to do is pull weeds. Everyone thinks I am nuts but it is wonderful when you can see a clear spot to put in another hosta. Also if I have to have some of my theropy ha! weed pulling realy helps. Hope you enjoy your little green house. Bev

Bev-- you can come get your therapy at my house this summer. I will be "NO Charge" just for you . LOL My hands have gone bad with arthritis and so I'm going to have to rely on Round-up and Preen to help me out this year. Lou

Bev, Yes, I've been reading about the weather your having at this time...brrr to me!! I absolutely love to pull weeds also. I think it's a restful mindless activity and very satisfying when completed. In fact we had a nice gentle rain on Sat. and Sunday I was out pulling weeds as they were easy to pull. lol

Hi Lou, nice to see you again. I'm sorry to hear about your hand problems. I see this is so many people now a days and I thank god that I'm able to still use mine everyday.

Donna

Blizzard here today too. I'm in the middle of Indiana. We have 8-9''and still coming down .Personally I love snow ,the quiet of it all

Lou! I would come pull weeds with you. I also have arthur. My mother and one of my brothers had the very crippling kind. Two of my sisters have had shoulderproblems and one of them had surgury on both and the other several of those painful shots. My left one is going out on me but I started taking that osteo biflex and it has helped but I no longer have the motion without pain but I will put up with it. I have just got to keep on trucking. I have been wanting to come to middle Indiana for years because my name was Beanblossom and am doing th genealogy but probably wwill not be able to because I have a disabled husband and son here to take care of so they need me more than I need my gene. Take care and stay warm. Bev

Donna! I love to pull them weeds after a rain. You get most of the roots that way. All that mud al over just makes you feel like a kid again. I does not bother me ,I just grab the hose. I am getting cabin fever just thinking of all this. Bev Oh! after setting a record of -11% last nite it is going to be 48 on Thursday. I want to see this!!!

Hi Donna,
Just wanted to say hello...
I've been BEYOND busy. Still having so many troubles with my HOA that it literally takes all of my time. I am running for Board of Directors, hopefully I can help reverse the damage. I am currently the chairperson for a study committee, started a non-profit organization, and am starting a business. I am so sorry that I have been MIA. I long for the peaceful days of last summer. I HAVE to do what I am doing though, because we have had Gangs hanging out in our local park, graffiti on the perimeter walls of our neighborhood, we have a hostile neighbor who has flown the American Flag upside down, urinated on his own front lawn in front of a young child, and is now posting offensive signs in his front window. I am fighting for my neighborhood before it is too late.

I am still keeping my garden up, but haven't expanded it, and it doesn't look as glorious as it did last year. I usually manage to get out there and spend an hour or two a week above and beyond the watering, but that's all I have time for. The two shrimp plants you gave me are thriving- especially the blue one, and so are the Coral Bells. I can't get the passion vine to bloom, and the doggone butterflies can't resist laying their eggs on the last vine that survived. The pink mums that Lloyd gave me at the Round Up are blooming and they are just lovely.

I sure miss you and chatting with Murmur and Mahnot, and everyone else. I wish I had more time to learn and enjoy this wonderful site. Take care, all of you and deadhead a couple of roses and think of me.

Lisa

A very good article indeed. After my Wife died I was not going to have a garden any longer but a very precious and sweet lady encouraged me to do so. If it were not for my garden I would probably be a drunk. Gardening alone is one thing but when you come inside to rest or to clean up and there is no one to ask you, how is the garden coming honey? What did you plant today? Do we need rain? I sure will be glad when the tomatos are ready. Instead there is a slience that is almost deafening. Nothing. So let me tell you men that are gardeners and have a wife, love her everyday and tell her so. I know there are times when we differ but that is only human. The best part of a disagreement is the making up. Forgive me for being sentimental but it is just a bad time of the year for me. Oh well I have to go and repot some tomato plants.
I love everybody I just love some more than others.

Hello Lisa!!! Nice to hear from you again. Every time I go to my DD's house, I think of you. Sounds like you have a lot going on in your life and that your dealing with it all in stride. I hope you can come back and play with us all again soon. BTW, did you see in the Calif. forum, that the RU at drdons is in May this year? Sure wish you could join us again. :-)

Hello Whitewidower,
Nice to meet you. Ya know, I completely understand what you mean about sharing your garden thoughts with your spouse. Even though my husband is not into gardening, he does enjoy seeing and hearing about it on a daily basis. None of my family members are gardeners, so it's hard to share the little things with them too.
I am so glad that you found this site to share your garden thoughts with others. We are here to listen and help, when others need it. I am a real "people" person and love most everyone too. Sometimes some people just don't want to be liked.
Thanks for posting to this thread with your thoughts. :-)

Donna

(((((Whitewidower))))) I am so sorry that you are going through a rough time. I have found gardening to be very good therapy, and am so glad that you haven't given it up. Be kind to yourself as you heal.

Just a thought for whitewidower. When I was widowed gardening was my therapy when I got home from work and on the weekends. Working was a big help, keeping busy and being surrounded by people in the office. Not that I took my sorrows to work; it was the company that was needed. You will get over the hurt and you will absorb the silence which will eventually be less painful.

Since you love gardening so much; why don't you check out your local University Extension service and take a course to become a Master Gardener. I have two more classes left and will be sorry when they end. But I'll have my volunteer time to do. We also have, locally, our township gardening clubs. These are great ways to meet people who are interesting and with whom you would feel very comfortable with. Keep busy my friend, especially with the things you love to do.

Hey Donna,

I would love to go to the RU if I could get a ride. Boy- I'm just wondering when my life is gonna settle down! My two sons have been terribly sick with a strain of Norovirus. My oldest son dropped from 49 lbs to 39 lbs since Thursday. He's been in the ER twice and needed IVs both times along with anti nausea meds. He's so weak and dehydrated. I think the hospital should have kept him, but you know how the hospitals are these days- they won't keep you unless you're half dead. He seems to have finally turned the corner and has eaten a small amount of food today, but we're not out of the woods yet.