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Carolina Gardening

Garden Therapy

16 years ago

Hi friends, I am scheduled to talk to our garden club - 20 ladies - about Garden Therapy. I wonder if any of your special moments come to mind, that I could use in my 20 min talk. I think some of the comments about hanging out in your garden would qualify as to reinvigorating your person. Thanks to all. Nancy

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Comments (6)

transplanted2scin07
16 years ago
While gardening soothes my soul in many ways, the one I think I appreciate the most is the opportunity it provides on a social level. It allows you to make a connection with another human being who truly understands your passion for all things garden related.
Many years ago when I had just moved into a new community, I discovered one of my neighbors had an amazing garden. Being shy, I decided to keep walking past the home in the hopes that one day I would spot the gardener working in that lovely garden. Sure enough, one day I found the man that had created the beauty and I got up the courage to say "Hello". We became instant garden friends; trading plants as often as we traded garden stories. He has since passed on, but the plants and seeds he gave me have helped to keep his memory alive for me.
nonews
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks transplanted, I, too, had a memory after a move to a new house with 3 kids and DH. The morning after we moved in, the only place of solace I could find was out in the vegetable garden in the back yard. My new neighbor was working in his garden and made me feel welcome. I told him that I wasn't ready to face the job of unpacking and felt the need to pull some weeds. He understood completely. Nancy
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Thanks Al
Q
Comments (1)
You're welcome, D. Did you, by mistake, throw away the fertilizer I sent, or did you just mean you'll be needing more? Did I have a "DOH!" moment & not send it? ;o) You might want to stick a wick in your pots (through bottom) at first, until you get the feel for how often to water. The top will look/feel dry at times, but often there is still lots of water in the soil, You can use the wick to test for dampness & then water when it feels dry. It IS different, I know, but I think you're going to love how easy it is to keep the salt levels down. Because it doesn't hold perched water, you'll also be able to pretty much water on a schedule if you want - something you can't do with a more water-retentive soil w/o risking consequence. I just hope you like it, though you probably won't get to see the best results until plants start growing again in earnest, come spring. TTYL, Al
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Gardening is therapy-Succulent question
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Comments (3)
The Pleiospilos does not belong with the others. It needs a deep pot to accommodate the long roots, and it tends to be more active from late summer into wintertime and thus needs to be watered and given as much sun as possible during that time. It will not look good long-term if grown otherwise, instead you will have a plant that just "survives". It should flower every year when healthy. My plants bloom during the winter or very early spring. After flowering, watering is reduced significantly until late summer when more frequent watering resumes. During the spring and summer new bodies grow as they utilize the moisture from the old leaves. If they are watered too much during this time, the old leaves will not resorb and the plant will not have its characteristic appearance. Pleiospilos bolusii superficially is similar to P. nelii except that it is much more likely to be a summer grower and is more compatible with the sedums, although I still would not plant them together. The bolusii flower has a wonderful coconut fragrance unlike anything I have ever smelled, it is worth growing just to experience the scent.
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Recovering, learning and seeking help
Q
Comments (4)
I don't know what made me visit this forum today, but I'm glad I did. What a fantastic resource Twigs is (thank you for the link the that website). I am pleased to hear you have found gardening such a help in your recovery. Stick with it! :-) While I am not a new gardener, I am not a seasoned gardener, either, so I am not sure what advice I could give you other than to enjoy what you're doing and not take it too seriously. Sometimes trial and error and "happy accidents" are the most effective teachers. Best of luck with your courses! I hope you keep us posted about your progress.
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S. A. ARE Festival of Rose 10/24 - 10/25
Q
Comments (4)
Roselee, Thanks, ARE was at the Herb Market yesterday and I mentioned reading the blog. She was a bit surprised, but enjoyed meeting one of her readers. I told her I got the link from you on this site. They say their gardens are looking really good now, so I'm going to try to get out there next weekend.
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lindakimy
16 years ago
Well, my garden is very isolated. I don't get to talk to other gardeners nearby. There is dense woods all around. You can't see it from the road (from the garden you can't see the road). But it still offers me very helpful therapy.

My job is so stressful - all deadlines and detail. I have 4 computers in my office and I work on all of them at the same time, all the time. (help)

My garden is the place I go when I'm NOT there. It is slow! Seasons rather than seconds! And I get to choose the plants and the places - there is no other part of my life where I have that kind of control!

I really think my garden keeps me sane. It is what I hold on to when everything else seems to be up in the air.
pfmastin
16 years ago
My garden touches me on a spiritual level lots of times. It makes me feel closer to the Creator. One day I was on my knees weeding in the vegetable garden and my neighbor (we go to the same church) called over..."Are you working or are you praying?"? I said......yes. :) With all of today's pressures, worries and bad news from every direction, it's wonderful to be able to lose oneself in the flowers and birds and bees.
rootdiggernc
16 years ago
PF, that was beautiful,... I can so relate!!
drippy
16 years ago
The garden is the visible metaphor for resurrection for me. I tell my physician every year at my physical that my garden is my "hedge against death" - it always brings a smile to his face.

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