Join the club Michelle, my better half has no interest in the Garden either, BUT he always tells me when this or that neighbour says something nice about it. But why doesnt he say things like that to me, after I have spent neally all day pruning or planting and everything looks so neat and tidy, even if only for a little time.

Look Michelle by Daughter is the same I will say to her, do you like this or what do you think of that, and I get this blank stare but then my Grand-daughter will say to me Nana that is pretty what is that called, and look at this Nana remember when I helped you plant that a few years ago, and you know what Michelle is makes me feel so good. So complements even from the younger ones sure make my day, so yours have yet to come. I am sure the family appricate what you are doing, but it would be nice if they said so all the same...MM

Michelle, I know exactly how you feel. I think it's the lack of questions. If we were just asked a few questions, it would give us the opportunity to talk about how and why, as well as the problems we faced and how we solved them. There's nothing wrong with feeling you'd like to share your interests with your family.

As for working hard in the garden only to think it doesn't look much different, this happens to me too. Trouble is, I keep looking at all those gorgeous pictures in magazines and thinking my garden should look just as good.

Thankyou MM and wattleblossom'
thankyou for your words of encouragement.I feel exactly the same and its nice to know others feel the same.
I try to be positive and have a hopeful view of the world but it does get you down.
wattleblossom I totally agree about the magazines. I subscribe to 2 and when you see the gardens in them you think "mine will never look like that!!"
Then I think well -if its in the magazine, then of course its going to be great.
Actually ,I have a little story to tell--my husband and I went to see a house today(bit bigger etc).He said while the house was large there were a few problems, firstly there is no garden for your roses!!!We cant go anywhere that has a small or no garden space or you will go crazy!!!!
So I thought he is understanding my love for the garden--even if it comes out in unusual ways!!
Oh well,we'll just have to plug on:))
cheers
Michelle

Michelle,
Please don't feel disheartened. The garden doesn't always give you an immediate rewards. You WILL reap the rewards later! As for support from family; my daughter was never interested in my garden, but now suddenly with a home of her own...she actually asked me how to take a cutting! I was so excited. Funnily enough though, her 3yr. old daughter LOVES gardening with me and shows a real interest in the names of everything and how to plant things and prune them. My husband was totally disinterested for years but now he is in semi-retirement he is starting to take more interest in the garden. So there is hope.
Cheers,
Dee.

Michelle, forget the rest of the family, as long as you get pleasure from what you're doing, that's all that matters. Some people just don't express what they think and nothing we do or say, would make any difference, so only garden for yourself and the joy it gives you.
re the Garden magazine gardens and open gardens, when do you take a photo of your garden and individual flowers, when they are at there peak or when they are at their end? We went back to a garden once that we had been most impressed with , and I was really pleased to see dead bits and plants being hauled out to go on the compost heap, just like in the real world.
Ria

Ahh another Ria in the world rosehall just as I was about to complain about my wife Ria (nic). I think over time my family has come to accept my love of the garden & roses. I try to balance their ventures with mine instead of dragging them around the countryside for my benefit. I've actually found 'Ria' is starting to get interested a little...Anyway Michelle when I was young until I turned about 27 I had no interest in the garden and/or roses. I lived on a farm for 15yrs of my youth and actually helped my parents propogate/grow/sell chrysanthemums/strawberries/dahlia's, etc. All I thought it was good for was heartache but how things have changed so rapidly in the past ten years. I think I'm now worse than my old man who is in shock at my change of heart. Don't give up as things may change before you can tell why....:)

Garry

Same here, but when they flower, he's out smiling at them and then brags his wife has 200 roses.. One grand daughter really doesn't care, the other loved her kids gardening day at Silkie Gardens, pruning, planting and tkaing a rose home..
The last time we went there she said how much she liked Fiona's wish.. I thought oh, ok.. but 10 months later when the time came to pick the rose to take home, she didn't have to go and look, she said, Fiona;s Wish please..
I thought, gee, she remembered the exact one she wanted.
It's your pleasure, it's your joy in seeing them grow.
You can share here.. and what your husband said when looking at the proposed new house, means he DOES enjoy them, he's just doing the bloke thing... :)

Thankyou everyone for your thoughts.
I feel I am in good company:))
Fran-C You are right-my husband is overwhelmed with work.I will garden for myself and share the interest with gardening friends and this board.
I love communicating on this forum.It is a great way to share an interest.
Thanks everyone :))
Michelle