In this fast paced life we live, it is good to have a hobby. Something to help us cope with our busy lives, the stresses of day-to-day living. Gardening is just the ticket to take your mind off your worries for a short time. You can dive into your garden as much or as little as you want. As a gardener here in Calgary I have all kinds of clients. Some people want to do everything, they just need to know what to put where. Some people need the spring clean up done so they can get to work with the planting, others want to work a small part of the garden and would prefer I work the rest of the gardens. Then there is my favorite, they want the garden to look pretty. They do not have time or energy to work the garden. They want to come home and just enjoy their garden.
There are several steps to making a beautiful garden. First start with the plans. I like to look at pictures, some from my garden last year others from gardens in magazines. I then decide what I want to keep, what to move, and what to get rid of. When you have made your notes and drawn your pictures, it is time to decide on the plants. Every year I pick a plant that I’m not familiar with and add it to my garden. I like to see if it’s going to work in my area, will I like how it looks, etc. Some I love and have kept, others I either do not like as much or they were poor performers in my garden.
When you plan your garden out use all your senses. Plant herbs or certain flowers for their smell, plant some flowers for their colour. I like to plant a few things because I like to touch them, like snap dragons (they can talk), or lamb’s ears they feel so fuzzy, etc. You know what I’m saying, we all have these plants that we like. Some I plant to draw in the birds or butterflies. Plant things that you like that make you want to stay in your garden. I have watched a bumble bee wake up on the head of an Allium. I can tell you all kinds of stories about garden life. I think gardens are wonderful, magical places, filled with all kinds of great stories.
After a hectic week at work, fighting traffic, meeting deadlines, etc. it is nice to have a place to retreat to for a couple of hours, filled with wonderful sights and smells. Learn to relax and enjoy the beauty in your own yard. As you work in your garden week after week you will notice when and where the flowers come up. Already you will be thinking next year I will move this plant over here and I will put that plant over by the other one that blooms a little later. You might also be thinking of colour and where you would like to see more or different colour. Gardening is a great hobby. Do as much or as little as you need to feel “right” with the world. What you do in life – at work and home is important. To be able to de-stress and relax makes it easier to move through the world touching all the lives we do in a daily basis. It makes you better at being you.
Pathway to Plants 