When I was a little girl, we would go to visit my beloved “Grammy.” Since I became a grammy, I fondly refer to her as “Grammy, Sr.” Grammy, Sr. and Papa would take us to see what was growing and what was new out in their fields. We would look at tiny tomato blossoms in their new greenhouse, or look at Grammy’s carnations and see that there were lots of flowers in bloom. We would take the time to notice tiny buds which meant more blooms were coming. Noticing and observing the little things they were growing always made all of us feel better.
Grammy, Sr. and Papa Showed Me How to Have Fun in the Garden
Nowadays, as I walk out in the garden, I look carefully at everything I go by. I noticed the rose bush was putting on the first buds of the season. Then, I notice how beautiful the tomatillo bloom was with a purple center and yellow bloom. I see plants that need water and others that had put on new growth.
Sometimes if I’m lucky, I get to see a beautiful caterpillar or a new bug I’ve never seen. Or later maybe I’ll see a bee sipping on a salvia.
Once my grandsons and I found a rough earth snake below my zinnia bed, and they had a good 30-45 minutes play taking turns holding the snake and observing it. Then they built a little shelter for it and relocated it near my bird bath. It slithered away down under the earth as they watched in amazement.
All of these things make your garden fun. I have seven tips for you..
Tip 1: Have Fun Looking Closely at What You See in Your Garden
When you go in your garden every morning, look for something new you haven’t seen before. You might find little leaf on the mango tree you are trying to grow but looks rather hopeless. Or, you might find a dragonfly alighting on a stick.
Amongst your vegetables, you might find a couple of new baby tomatoes that are starting to grow or get bigger. Or maybe your hibiscus has bloomed and the blooms are spectacular. Those little things that you see can bring you the greatest joy of gardening.
That’s the beautiful thing about gardens. Look closely, notice, and delight (mostly) in what you see.
Gardening can bring us joy. When we plant something and later see it grow, it feels rewarding. According to Carla Manly, PhD, clinical psychologist and author, “When you engage in something that feels rewarding, our dopamine and serotonin levels increase, which puts you in a better mood.”
Tip 2: Have Fun Not Looking Too Closely at Things in Your Garden
Okay, I just contradicted myself. This is an important tip, too.
Ignore the weeds that you just don’t have time or energy to get to today. Letting those weeds get you down just saps your energy so you can’t do as much. Once, as I wandered through my garden, I saw a messy spot with dead stalks left over from winter and grasses that needed pulling. As is my frequent habit, I put that on my mental list for next week. In my garden, and perhaps in yours, there is more to do than I can get done on any given day.
Sometimes I bring myself down about it. My inner thoughts go something like: “This corner is awful – full of sticky weed. Over there, too many weeds are getting out of control. One of my plants is sickly, or even died.” It is okay to notice those things. But it isn’t good to let it bring you down. There will be a time for a clean-up. And the tasks that you dreaded may be won’t even be as hard as I thought they were going to be.
Tip 3: Don’t compare Your Garden to Pictures You See
Remember that when anyone is posting a picture of their garden on Instagram or Facebook, they aren’t going to post pictures of their tomato plants dying or the place where you have a pile of stuff you’ve been meaning to toss out or pass on.
They are going to zoom in on the most beautiful thing they can find. You can do this yourself, only using your eyes. Zoom in on what is beautiful to you.
Tip 3: Have Fun Expecting to Learn
Some of your plants are going to die. That’s a fact. And every time a plant dies, you will learn from it. As I have written before, Master Gardeners joke that you earn that designation after you have killed 500 plants. Take time to grieve for your loss, of course, but don’t let it stop you. It doesn’t mean you are a “bad” gardener, as if there was such a thing. A gardener is a learner. And each gardening experience we have helps us be a better gardener.
Gardening is fun because it is a continual learning process about the earth, and about you, yourself. It also brings a peace and joy that is completely indescribable and magical. As you slow down and enter into a connection with nature, it feels good to your spirit, and it keeps you coming back for more. Organic gardening is a metaphor for life, and as you care for your plants, you care for yourself.
Tip 4: Have Fun in Your Garden Looking for the Magic
As you garden, many magical, miraculous occurrences happen. One day, a herd of beautiful queen butterflies will be dipping into the nectar from your Gregg’s Mistflower. And a bubble of joy will start in your belly, and travel up to your mouth, where a huge smile appears. That bubble of joy will travel with you the rest of the day. Tomorrow, you may see another miracle – a ladybug, a new sprout, a bloom coming, a green tomato beginning to blush with red – a miracle waits every day for your particular enjoyment.
Does that look to you like a squatter bird left their egg in another bird’s nest?
Tip 5: Think of Your Garden as a Work of Art
I also think of my garden as a work of art. It needs a little more work here. There is looking good. Take this out. Put this in. It keeps you busy and feels good. If we aren’t feeling good as we garden, we need to figure out why we aren’t.
I have a tendency to over-buy and then have to look for places to put plants I’ve bought. Or I start a bunch of seeds and then they have to go somewhere.
Are You a Planner or an Experimenter?
My daughter told me she likes to plan her garden, and if that is you, more power to you! The earth has room for planners and for experimenters.
I’m more of an experimenter, within the parameters of what I absolutely know will work. I don’t like to experiment with putting vegetables in the shade. I know that won’t work. But if it’s a plant I’m not familiar with, I will push its boundaries and plant it in part sun if the label says full sun. One of the reasons for that is that I know Texas is different than the places many plants are grown, and the labels may not reflect our blast furnace heat. Then, I’ll watch the plants and see if it is happy in that environs.
Tip 6: Take the Time to Smell the Roses, but Just Be Sure They’re in the Shade
I shamelessly stole this last one from my daughter. Yep, smell the roses. And make sure they’re in the shade when you do.
Do whatever you can to make your life easier as you garden. I use tools such as a bucket as a stool to make weeding easier. Check out my post about my favorite tools.
Those are my six best tips on making your garden fun. I hope you enjoy yourself in your garden today and everyday.
I invite you, my dear readers, to go notice five small things that are happening in your garden that are fun and see if you don’t feel calmer and more ready to face the world. Let me know what you find!