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?
Guess I'm glad I didn't get a Spring garden in because the plants would either now be drying out or bolting.
I'm thinking next year I might plan to create more pea an bean tents and plant bolting crops under the tent to help protect them from the sun.
38.33° CELSIUS.
Nice visual, thanks.
If we didn't live so far away, you could have some of my ostrich ferns. They grow easily, multiply easily and are beautiful. Some volunteered next to the garage, where they're in sun, which isn't the best location as they're shade lovers.
Despite periodic location, more still sprout. I suspect they grew wild in that area before this house was built.
They are stunning in August though as they begin turning color earlier than their friends in the shade. As they lose vigor, their fractal balance and shapes are more apparent. They'll turn a golden to rusty brown but some fronds will remain green. Just lovely - I peek out the window several times a day because they're just so pretty at that time of the year.
One limitation is that they don't do well with cut bouquets. I used to add them to flowers to create a green contrast, but they just never held up even if cut, put in water and kept in water until mixed with flowers.
I also tried drying them once, to use with violets in hand made cards. I don't recall if it was the violets or the ferns, but that effort wasn't very successful.
Yesterday I was out scouting for freebies and came across some ferns (ostrich?) growing in the ditch. People clean out their gardens and just dump the extras by the woods, so I figured since they are not native and growing in the ditch and not private land they were mine... always carry a shovel in the car!
I wish I could understand what happened here that made you decide to leave, and I wish you would reconsider. I hope I haven't unwittingly made you feel uncomfortable or contributed to your decision to leave.
You've made valuable contributions to this thread. Your experience is very helpful and valuable, as well as diversified.
You've demonstrated how to put trauma behind you and move ahead. And, honestly, I've admired your life - you seem to have so much freedom now, and I thought it was a healing freedom.
Please, please, reconsider leaving.
detaching with love and concern, Ashlynne.
Neither me or my chickens are "cooped up". My abuser died last fall. With a 4x4 I can go wherever I want whenever I want. So hot today my chickens have a fan on them. None of us i "cooped up".
Country life is not idyllic, it's hard work,. blood, sweat and tears but I wouldn't have it any other way. In my view and experience, get rid of your monsters in any way you can and get a life before the stress kills you.
I'm out of here ... it';s so depressing.
It was you, Ashlynne, who mentioned maybe your chickens were too stupid to get outside into the run. I was the one identifying with your chickens being cooped up, and it was me who needed to get out of the house today.
I am well aware that you have a great life, by good choices that you have made after your narcissistic mother died. You are to be an example that there is a good life after caregiving.
How did I write in such a way as anyone would misinterpret what I meant?
Very sorry to you, Ashlynne, that what I wrote was so misunderstood.
How can I make this right?
Time for a break when I must start explaining myself.
When Cruella died, after a lifetime of abuse I vowed I'd never tolerate abuse again,from anyone.
Reminds me that it is imperative to get out of the house today! Your new life sounds wonderful-there is life after caregiving!