What 'feelings' do you want from your garden?

14 years ago

My sister and I discussed our gardens and discovered that we want different things from a garden. She has been stressed out over money and health problems. To counteract the stress she wants a garden that feels calm and peaceful with lots of green plants with just bits of color here and there. I work with tragedy every day (I am a crime victim advocate). I want to counteract the sadness and grief. I want a garden that feels happy. So I want lots of colorful plants that look bright and happy to me. It never occurred to either of us that not everyone wants the same ÂfeelingsÂ from their garden. What feelings do you want from your garden?

Nancy

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Comments (32)

coffeemom
14 years ago
Great question! I have no idea except to say "all of the above". I'm going to have to sit and seriously think about this.
Interesting.....
teka2rjleffel
Original Author
14 years ago
It is isn't it? I never really related what I was doing in the garden with emotions, but after our discussion and I really looked at it, there it was.
Nancy
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This does sound like a horrible situation, and I, too, want to give you my best wishes and hopes that things will improve over time,Tangles. I also agree with Lisa: be careful and safe! Sleeping in your car does sound dangerous, and I hope you can find an alternative,or that your sister will at least have the common sense to realize that it's absurd and really pretty unnatural to put you in a position where you'd be forced to do that. I also agree that .for now, it's best to leaves the roses be. Moses is right; you have enough to deal with already without having to think about them. Also, you might want to avoid any histrionic gestures; to me it sounds like your sister is being very histrionic and childish herself, and you don't want to get pulled down to her level, if possible, though I know that that can be difficult ,especially because it seems to me at least that she's kind of playing mind games: if she just wants to sell the house and move in with her b/f,why not just come out and say so? It does certainly sound like you'd be much, much better off having your own place. Best wishes and stay safe.
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manature
14 years ago
HAPPY!!!

But I do have different "rooms" planned for my garden, and hope to someday have a white garden that will feel tranquil and peaceful, so I'm a little bit "all of the above," too.

A cheery corner here, a peaceful corner there, but mostly a lot of exuberance, I think. Good question, teka2.

Marcia
trini1trini
14 years ago
My garden needs to be the daily escape that I need. When I am in it, nothing else should matter. I want it inviting and peaceful. I don't want to deal with any stress when I am in it and I want it to be like a mini botanical garden. It should also feed me. :)
countrynest
14 years ago
This is a great topic.
I am creating a garden for many different emotions.
My bamboo grove is exotic,mysterious and peaceful. It is a get away from it all. A good place to pray and meditate.
When I'm hungry,that is all the time,I go to my fruit orchards. For magic and romance,when I wish for romance, that is,there is the bench by the small waterfall and brook,where the fairies are hanging around the tree.
For more excitement I go to watch the fish in the pond,snakes and frogs on the lily pads. For exercise,I walk the paths. The bamboo grove is also good for crying,no body sees you.
This thread has really made me think,thanks,Nancy!
Felix
goldenpond
14 years ago
A quick glance at the ponds and streams totally relaxes me and takes my cares away;
the water lilies, the fish popping, the frogs and
turtles , the ducks gliding ever so gently over still waters.
I love to hide things amongst the foliage for the grandkids and others to discover. Especially whimsical and recycled items.
A HUGE playground Lion hides in some bushes.
There are places to rest and pray, seashells define paths, blue bottles on bamboo poles, a gnome village, the herb garden where small children fill their fat little cheeks with mint and tarragon!
Each grandchild is making a mosaic stepping stone that leads to a fountain for them to splash in.
A honeysuckle vine for them to sip nectar from the sweet blossoms.
My veggie and fruit patch is usually in need of some serious weeding,it is the evil stepchild with most of my attention centered on the flowers that give me so much joy! When it is in full production blueberries,onions and tomatoes take center stage. And lettuce glorious lettuce of every color tempts me.
A formal garden on the side yard complete with concrete urns full of geraniums and statues of cherubs satisfy my husbands idea of a yard.
Staghorns ferns and orchids sit in the treetops while the spanish moss drips from the branches.
The butterfly gardens are worth their weight in gold as the fluttering of winged wonders soothes and removes the thoughts and worries of the toxic world we live in.
Who could ask for anything more?
teka2rjleffel
Original Author
14 years ago
I always drool over pictures of white garden too Marcia. They are just so... classy is the best word I can think of.
I'm the same way Trini. Sometimes I get so lost in my garden that I lose track of time.
Felix and Tanya, how big are your gardens? Mine is so small that I don't have room for many emotions, ha ha.
Nancy
thonotorose
14 years ago
All of the above, and for me, what I feel best about in my garden is

Order

Order in the sense of Divine Order, that things are unfolding as they should and that every challenge in life has equal or greater gifts. We live in a bountiful world and when my thinking is in Divine Order, I see the gifts and treasure all around.

Veronica
gcmastiffs
14 years ago
I want to feel calmness, curiosity and wonder. My favorite part of the property is the curving path that I'm always working on. It changes with the seasons and is always interesting.

I'm happy when I check on "special " plants and they look beautiful and healthy. That sends me off to work in a cheerful state of mind.

My archway of Passionvines looks magical, and I walk under it just to please my inner child(G).

I try to look beyond the areas that badly need weeding(G).

Lisa
corar4gw
14 years ago
Because it's going to take a few years to make our few acres into a home, son, DIL and I have indulged in 'daydreams on the computer'. On the computer we've drawn in great detail, the house, the green houses, the fruit orchards, my herb garden and the memory garden where my grandson's ashes will be buried. That particular garden will be set away from the house and will be rather secluded with seating and perhaps a pond or fountain. A place for meditation and contemplation. We're deciding what sort of bamboo we want and are checking out local nurseries, feed stores - you get the picture. A garden has always been my shrink and therapist. Now my son and DIL are acquiring that sense of Devine Order Veronica spoke of. On the practical side, we've already made purchases of gas appliances and a gorgeous bathroom that was ordered then refused. Next week, I shall make some tile with both families crests on them and in November I plan to make a large (48") hypertufa bowl to be used as a planter or fountain, which ever they want to use it for. Everything we do is aimed at making our lives as fruitful and serene as we can. Just like a garden should be.
cora
manature
14 years ago
Cora, I think the dreaming and the planning part of gardening is as much fun as the actual doing. It's soothing and healing to me to sketch ideas, or look at mags for inspiration, and design beds and garden rooms in my head.

I've done it on the computer, on paper, and just in my imagination, picturing just where everything is going to go. That part is very rewarding. And then seeing it come together, one part at a time, is lovely.

Enjoy your planning. It's all part of the journey.

Marcia
garyfla_gw
14 years ago
Hi
Was just thinking about feelings the other day and figured I spend way too much time on the negative lol.
When I walk around my planting area I tend to notice the hedge needs pruning the one plant that is not doing well the insect damage, flowers that are not fully formed.
Weeds running amok.lol
Instead of looking at those that are doing well
What woke me up was a Vanda orchid that I've been nurturing more than any plant has a right to expect. It flowered with 10 five inch disks in a gorgeous deep purple looking so perfect looked like plastic. Did i spend a lot of time admiring it. No!! I pruned the hedge , replanted some ailing phaius orchids repotted several Phals that are suffering in the rains. When i stopped to admire the Vanda 3 of the flowers had already faded .
It seems I'm missing the whole point of gardening lol
gary
teeka0801(7aNoVa)
14 years ago
so far, it's all been about the process, the hard physical labor and that feeling of complete exhaustion,yet fulfillment in a very deep sense that has made it all worthwhile.

I get a huge sense of satisfaction when I see something I thought was dead suddenly with a new branch and leaves, or better yet, some flowers.

teeka
dghays
14 years ago
Fulfilling is what I also feel when I walk around my acre and a half. There are many other emotions that can occur within that, depending on the circumstance. The beauty of my biggest red maple, around 30' tall in a naturistic setting, with several other maples alongside, is hard to beat. My bald cypress, with it's butressed trunk and small knees which are protruding a few inches above the ground, just might. As more and more songbirds seem to get attracted here every year, that really does it for me. The amount of native food that is produced for them will become impressive when more of my native trees mature. It's awfully hard to feel stress while I walk my property.

It's also very 'filling' since I also grow over 120 varieties of fruit!

Gary
ginibee
14 years ago
When I was thinking about this topic the one word that kept coming back is ... JOY!!!!

Joy to see the first bloom of a new plant (or old)
Joy to really look at the wonderful, intricate foliage in plants like the Tis, crotons, caladiums, etc, etc,
Joy to open my patio door and get a waft of perfume coming from all the fragrant plants I have around my patio
Joy to go into the butterfly area and hear all the buzzing as the bees think it's the Bee garden, but butterflies visit too
Joy to walk through my garden and see all the plants that I have and love thanks to so many GW friends.
Joy that the birds and other critters love my yard as much as I do.

And finally, I'll always remember the joy my husband had on his face when we would sit on the patio in the afternoon and he would spy the first hummingbird.

I still have more weeds and overgrown plants than I care to think about, but the Joy I feel outweighs any other thoughts.

I thank God and Mother Nature every day for doing such a wonderful job.

Ginny
rainy230
14 years ago
That is a great question Nancy! I think of my garden as healing and hopeful. Even though it's small ( squre foot), I could spend the whole day there if I could. Whenever I have to have surgery or some unpleasant procedure, I try to plant something. For some reason that just makes me feel so good. The feel of the dirt the different plant fragrances, worth it's weight in gold ( or in my case prescriptions ) LOL. Just reading everyones's posts makes me want to go right out there !! I think that I need to plant a little something today !! Just that thought makes me happy !!
billbrandi
14 years ago
Garden Feelings
by Bill

I had a feeling for my garden,
But couldn't figure out what is was,
Was it joy or happyness like the others,
Or was I drawn to it just because.

Home from work one day drained and tired,
I walked my garden, the evening dim,
Plucked a weed here and there,
Eyes finally fixed on an upper limb.

I spied something hanging, ripe and plump,
But could not reach it, even with a stick,
The last avocado of the season,
Disappointed, this last one I could not pick.

Back to work the next day and I forgot,
Of that lone avocado hanging there,
Labor Day weekend was on my mind,
Four days off was my only care.

This morning I found a treasure waiting,
There on the ground awaiting me,
Unbruised and perfect, shiny still,
My lone avocado had left its tree.

I guess I understand my feelings now,
Why I plant and watch them thrive,
It fills me with a special harvest,
Contentment is the crop that I derive.
annafl
14 years ago
Lol, now I know why I love this forum so much. We all feel the same way about our gardens, and therefore have a common bond. My garden is also my spiritual place. I frequently feel all the feelings mentioned- peaceful, happy, calm, joyful, a sense of wonder, contentment, hope. I love creating a haven for all God's creatures, and watching them relish my work for them.

Gary, there are also days I have a hard time appreciating my garden, cause all I see is all the work to be done around every corner, so I know those feelings too.

Bill, you really need to keep us entertained with your poetry more often. How was that avocado?

Anna
goldenpond
14 years ago
Awesome Bill.
I forgot the BEST feeling,that of sharing it with others!
They never seem to notice the weeds and work that isnt done!
billbrandi
14 years ago
Thanks Anna/goldenpond.......I'm saving this last avocado for tomorrow's barbeque dinner. I brought home another avocado tree for the backyard today and planted it in what remaining backyard space that is left. The response from my wife and daughter was "what, another tree? Then rolled their eyes. These non-gardening types, oh well, not everyone likes to get their fingernails dirty. Have a happy Labor Day, all.
SaintPFLA
14 years ago
This is a great post!

I can say that I agree with most of the sentiment already expressed. Peace, serenity, beauty and a place for nature in my life.

Professionally, I'm in a very high-stress and demanding field that has very heavy people interaction. Sometimes it's energizing - sometimes exhausting.

So, for me, the "quietness" that you receive from the garden is priceless. I especially enjoy the night-time when you can listen to the crickets, frogs, evening birds. and night-time creatures. Most people are tucked into their homes so the noise from cars and people is minimal to non-exsistant.

For this reason, I try to plant night-blooming, fragrant flowers among the normal daytime bloomers. It's truly heaven on earth to sit there peacefully and enjoy the smells and the sounds.
patiogardener3
14 years ago
So I don't have my dream garden yet, but I want my garden to be 'Magic'. I want it to inspire imagination in children--to start out in the regular world but suddenly become lost in a different realm. To be mysterious as a pathway winds and then serene as a 'new room' opens up. To surprise, to have brightness and contrast, to be enchanted and enchanting!

I'm dreaming big!
manature
14 years ago
YEAH! What patiogardener said!!! Sounds perfect to me!

Marcia
ginibee
14 years ago
I think half the fun of gardening is dreaming... and then to see some of it come true is just the BEST!!

Ginny
solstice98
14 years ago
This is hard because my garden is so many things for me. Beauty, certainly. The beauty it brings to our yard and house, and the beauty of individual plants, flowers and the creatures that visit.
A place to be in touch with the natural world, definitely.
A place to run away from the everyday world, absolutely!
Order? Not at all! LOL. Give me chaos and randomness and surprises at every turn. I want my garden to make me laugh or gasp and it does both often. Sometimes it makes me cry but I can live with that.
I love everything about sharing my garden with others: pictures, plants, stories, vision.
I want it to inspire others as much as it inspires me and I've had the extreme pleasure of having neighbors start gardening because of what they've seen at my house. Walkers turn into the cul-de-sac just to see what's blooming. I love that. So I guess I have to include pride as one of the feelings I get from the garden. (oh oh, Seven Deadly Sins warning!)
I love having a place where I can be creative, but once I've done my part it takes over and changes in ways I couldn't expect. And when it gets out of control, I also like knowing that with just a little work (or maybe a lot of work) I can start it all over and make it something new.

Surprise, delight, beauty, pride... my garden makes me laugh.

Kate
corar4gw
14 years ago
I have a friend (who teaches hypertufa, by the way) whose garden is a registered meditation garden of some sort. I forget its actual classification. But, for those looking for it, her garden is open to the public, so to speak. Any one is welcome to come in, rest, meditate, enjoy her many garden rooms, each with seating, some with tables, and may stay as long as they like.
I'd never heard of such a thing, but think it is a wonderful idea and a way to share all of one's feelings about their garden. Are any of you familiar with this sort of garden and it's requirements?
cora
FlowerLady6
14 years ago
This is such a wonderful thread. I have enjoyed reading all the responses.

Bill your poem was great.

Peace, joy, serenity are the feelings I'm going for in my gardens. I love the different little nooks and rooms, love being surprised by scent, color, and texture of blooms. I love the carefree feelings that butterflies and birds bring into the gardens.

Thank you all for glimpses into the feelings your gardens bring about for you.

FlowerLady
linda_leaf _z10a_southwest_fl
14 years ago
I came from Chicago, where there were blizards and ice storms. Florida is a tropical paradise, so I like all things tropical with wild colors and something blooming every day. I have an orchid collection with a stanhopia blooming right now that is the most heavenly smelling vanilla scent you could ever imagine. I have a grove of plumerias getting bigger and prettier every day, also fragrant. Near the front door is a really weird looking tacca (bat plant) with it's strange looking white flowers and black seed pods. The bamboo I started out as a tiny twig smaller than a pencil is towering over the hisbiscus, shading them too much. Just outside the computer room there is a coral vine with bees searching out nectar. Yes, it's tropical paradise here.
Linda Leaf
solstice98
14 years ago
Cora, I've never heard of a certified meditation garden but I love the idea. If you learn more, please start a new post about it!

Kate
corar4gw
14 years ago
Kate, I finally located the information re; the meditation gardens. It's a movement that started in the UK and is called "Quiet Gardens". Here's a link that should get you to their web page. www.quietgarden.co.uk/the_concept.htm

I love the idea. You can see pictures of Melanie's garden by going to www.AlmostAncientPots.com Enjoy!
cora
solstice98
14 years ago
Thanks!
coffeemom
14 years ago
Oh Cora, I love the prayer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Quiet Garden Prayer

What 'feelings' do you want from your garden?

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What 'feelings' do you want from your garden?

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