We have learned so much this year. And one thing that I keep coming back to is how important it is to keep a connection with nature. It has always been so important to me to be close to nature–I have been a professional gardener for more than 20 years and a novice gardener for many years before that. I have always known how important it was for me to get my hands dirty, to watch a seed grow, to plant a space, to shape a shrub. I have always needed this, as a part of my daily diet. I have always connected with people who also felt this connection. And this year especially, I have been able to connect with so many more people as they are discovering that cleansing tonic of guiding plants through a cycle of life.
This year has brought uncertainty, fear, isolation and unrest. The gardens in our homes have provided comfort, satisfaction, stress relief and resolve. They have given us a much welcome distraction from the crippling anxiety that accompanies a global pandemic, civil unrest, elections and mass heartbreak. They have provided us with a safe source of food, when getting food feels precarious. They have provided us with blossoms for arranging, when attending dinners out and weddings adorned with blooms are not on our calendars any longer. They have provided us with a break from screens, a release of endorphins and a chance at investing in our home’s future value. I feel more satisfied with my career choice than ever before, and I cannot help but envision a fuller and deeper work with these amazing plots of soil.
We would love to hear from you! What are your favorite aspects of gardening for therapy? Do you enjoy the process or the end result more? Do you enjoy learning about new techniques or do you relish tried and true methods?