It's become clear to me through posts and PMs that there are some gardeners here just waiting for the chance to discuss gardening!
So, I was thinking... how do you use gardening, or how does it affect you if you need a break, need some respite, need to relax, need inspiration....how do you use it as a therapy tool in caregiving?
What are your activities: Do you go out and pull weeds, read a magazine, design new beds? Look through garden catalogues? Go to garden stores?
And what interests have you added to your gardening? Visit estate or garden displays? Do you go to garden shows?
Does anyone design and plant Knot Gardens? Raised bed planters? Assistive gardens? Pollinator gardens (and have you thought of ways to help the bees and butterflies?)
Are your gardens primarily for pleasure or food, or a mix of both? Do you grow plants for medicinal purposes? Which ones, how do you harvest and process them? Any suggestions?
Do you grow plants that can be used in crafts, such as grapevines for wreaths and lavender for lavender wands? Do you make herbal products such as creams, lotions, chapstick?
What else can you share about gardening and the means in which it nurtures your soul?
It’s fun to arrange all my ghost and goblins again but I find as I’m up on the ladder for the first time this year, I’m pulling the real spider webs off the ceiling beams so I can hang up the fake ones!
Psue -sounds like you have a zoo there! We had bats when I grew up and lots of excitement trying to catch them when they got in the house. My father would run around swiping at them with a towel while my sister and I ducked and shrieked while we covered our hair.
We have 4 catalpa seedlings remaining. They are not happy since I brought them in doors, so we will see. Rocky tried to eat one so I have to put them somewhere safe and bring her grass inside.
The farmer combined his wheat field outside our place yesterday and today so I dare not go out (allergies). Even R was suffering from the grain dust b/c of going outside We are keeping the windows and patio doors tight shut.
The critters are really something around here. Both the cushions on my front porch loveseat have had all the piping chewed off. Birds sit on the windowsills and jump at their reflections. Bats roost in the patio umbrella. Chipmunks climb our ‘hobbit’ doors and scratch to get in. Owls wake me up at night. Frogs chirp in the downspouts (sounds like they’re using a megaphone) I love/hate them all!
Nacy, I did the same thing with all my plants when I moved. The light is very different here and I knew they would be goners if I brought them. My poor girlfriends managed to absorb them all.
I curated down to 6 which was difficult but a lot less work.
daughter - what a wonderful selection. and Oh My flowers that bloom in the winter. I wish! I remember seeing roses blooming in a garden in Scotland in February in the snow
nacy - zinnias have such vibrant colours.
Psue - geysers - I used to point mine at the parts of the garden that needed water the most. Of course I got wet in the process, but in the summer it was kind of fun. I had a resident red squirrel who was very territorial. Always had one over the 40 years. Couldn't have been the same one I think. Early on he set up his home in the garage, which I couldn't allow. I tried everything tasty to entice him out but he wouldn't budge. So I thought "No more Mr Nice Guy" and pulled down the garage door leaving just enough room for a squirrel to escape. Then I turned on the car and let it run. Mr Squirrel got the message very fast, left and never returned to the garage. He was smart.
I finally had a plumber out yesterday to replace the leaky outdoor faucet. But when I hooked everything back up and turned it on I had a geyser in the back border between the woods and the yard. I’m glad it’s almost monsoon season.
I think the wildlife around here preferred the previous owner and are working together to sabotage me. I must say, I’m offended, but I don’t blame them.
50” is a lot of snow but I understand what you mean about the peacefulness. I used to be able to tell, even before getting out of bed in the morning or looking out the window, whether it had snowed during the night, just because of the muffled quiet. I miss it a little, but only a little.
I finished the bamboo clean up yesterday and by the time I got done I was so sore I couldn’t sleep. Better today.
How much snow do you get on average over there?
We park there to eat our lunch.
We decided to leave the gardening to the real gardeners.
Golden, I lost my very favorite cedar to the antlers of a buck.
Do any of you spray deterrent? How about anything for the moles, voles, gophers, rabbits, etc? When we moved here the previous owners left 9 (9!) sprayers in the garage - all were partially filled and unlabeled. I had to pay to have them disposed of at a hazardous waste site. I do NOT want to use anything that might find its way into the water or harm the predators but I would consider safe deterrent’s if there are any that work.
As you can see, I’m making excuses for my ignorance.
Do you have these plants you speak of in containers? And do your deer come right up to your house to snack on them?
Nacy, we moved away from the snow only a couple years ago so I understand that feeling of relief at the end of the season. Seems like it never gets cold enough here in the PNW to kill the weeds. If I don’t get out with the hoe over the winter, by spring they have trunks!
Golden, if the deer don’t eat it, they stomp through it, scrape their antlers on it or lay in it and stare at me when I try to run them off.
On a non-complaining note, just looking out a window here makes me breathe a little deeper and if I can get outside for a couple hours (or 8) I am a happier person.
My garden is a blessing to me but has been a mixed blessing since DH has declined so much. Yes, it’s the very best therapy for me, physically and mentally, but I didn’t know I would be taking care of it all by myself. Still, I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
I’d give up the deer in a hot minute though. And the moles. And the mice. And the spiders.
R has talked about making a presentation to town council about the planned development on our side. Permissions would have been given over 20 years ago when there may not have been as much concern for keeping trees.