In the last few months since we have all been home, I have spent time in my garden every day. Sometimes working hard: trimming, dead heading, planting and fertilizing. Other times I walk around appreciating the beauty of nature.
I could not have asked for a more perfect moment in my garden to be home for. Everyday new plants are sprouting leaves and blooms. I love watching my plants grow. Each year the garden gets more established and rewards my hard work.
I come from a long line of British gardening women, and I treasure and carry on the torch proudly. I remember my grandmother arriving in the US, and the first thing she did was plant yellow rose bushes at our home. They are still there some 45 years later. My mom would garden every Sunday. It was her ritual. I tend to wander out in the garden on any given day and can get lost in it for hours. It is so fulfilling, calming and zen. I don’t know what I would do without one and don’t ever want to find out.
If you don’t have your own garden, there are various community gardens. You can take a small plot and create and grow what you love. Whether it’s produce or cut flowers, your life will be enriched by the experience.
When things get back to normal, visiting gardens in whatever part of the world you are in is a great way to enjoy the day as well as see a variety of plants and get ideas for your own garden. I have taken so many ideas from all over and sometimes have to stop myself from growing everything I like as I only have so much space and want it to look nice and not like a small plant store.
Landscape design is something I have always relied on a landscaper’s help with. I have been lucky to work with two amazing women who have really shaped the structure and bones of my garden. From there you can add in what you want, but a good base design is helpful. I grow a lot of herbs, citrus and cut flowers. I don’t have enough sunlight in my garden to grow the produce I would like to, but I have an amazing farmers market I go to every week for that.
There is always room for a plant inside or some herbs on a kitchen windowsill if you don’t have a garden. We all need some nourishment right now and connection to nature. For me, my garden feeds my soul and keeps me inspired and creating daily.