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?
I haven’t tried Cacti. I have always wanted to try planting avacodo from a seed and aloe vera plant too. When I was younger I did plant alfalfa and mung bean sprouts to put on sandwiches.
Okay, neglect is bad but so is over watering. I have done both before!
Growing from seeds is fun. I remember planting avocado seeds. I think we grew pineapples from the top core, and sometimes oranges and apples.
My father had a great aloe vera plant that grew quite well; when we needed some healing, we cut off a leaf and spread the jel on the wound.
I love that about aloe. So cool how it has healing properties. Yeah, I will have to try indoor plants again.
When I heard that some of my plants were toxic to my cat I was apprehensive of having them in my house. You know, what if she had nibbled on them when I was at work? I haven't had a cat in years due to my allergy. I can attempt to grow some things indoors now.
Gardening is wonderful! It's fun and relaxing, and the satisfaction of walking out back seeing the produce growing, I just love it. I get so excited seeing those little red tomatos on the vine! It's funny, my grandmother jokes that I love the tomato plant more than I love her and I quip back: "well the tomato plant doesn't talk back to me!" XD
Our local library is starting a seed program where you can "borrow" seeds from the seed catalog. You tell them which ones you would like to try (they give you a small sample), you take them home, grow them, and if successful, you can harvest the seeds to be "returned" (optional, you don't have to return anything if you don't want to.) This is a great program for beginner-level gardeners like myself who are still learning. Can't wait to try it, they have heirloom and organic varieties of all different kinds of plants. My plan is to do a whole wood box planter-style veggie patch, maybe a small herb garden too, and possibly sunflowers if I can. I used to love growing sunflowers as a kid :)
I'm impressed with the local program to expand gardening; that's a wonderful idea! And it encourages seed saving, especially of heirloom seeds, something that's become more necessary as large seed companies expand and hybridize. There are some seed saver organizations.
Amy Goldman is a noted specialist in seed saving. She's been featured on gardening programs, Victory Garden if I remember correctly.
https://amygoldmanfowler.com/
Do you have any plans worked out yet for materials and your whole wood-box of veggies? I assume you know that you should avoid any treated lumber?
Will this be an on ground raised bed, or elevated one? Will you be designing and building the box yourself?
There are so many options these days, not only for container gardens but for living wall gardens. If you're not familiar with these, fix a cup of herbal tea or coffee, and wander through photos of these exciting living walls:
https://www.google.com/search?q=living+walls&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwifn-bG05DoAhWgAZ0JHZIoDnsQsAR6BAgBEAE&biw=1280&bih=537
I'm planning some, one for morning glories, another for sweet peas, another for grapes, honeysuckle and other vines. I've been collecting tree trunks as I've cleared out trees, and have dozens more in the yard designated for living walls instead of nuisance trees.
I'd planned on scaling the garden back this year - more flowers, less veggies. I'm rethinking this but I need to come up with a plan that works with my needing to do less work. Gardening for Geezers ;-)
(yeah, just thinking, not actually doing)
And CWillie, I’ve not been shy about asking neighbors for a start of something I found pretty before, you should go for it
Maybe I will order one.....just thinking about it.
I would have to put out a hummingbird feeder for them.
Thank you for sharing that, that is a smile waiting for every thought of it.
CWillie, I've never heard of that. How interesting. I can't help think that a bee laid eggs in the plant before you brought it in, and that it was dormant even though it was in the house.
I don't know much about bee neonatal development, especially outside of a hive. I wonder if this is a ground bee?
I found some limited information on ground bees and their nesting habits. I'm wondering now if there are more baby bees waiting to enter this world? Your pot might have been a ground bee mother's nursery.
https://entomology.cals.cornell.edu/extension/wild-pollinators/native-bees-your-backyard/
I'm thinking also of cold frames, and what are used in them. They would be in an excavated area, so the pots and plants would be in earth below the ground level, but that's a lot of work for you right now.
A Styrofoam tub might work, or an old cooler, with old blankets wrapped around the pot. Or you could try an old tub, maybe even a box, and fill it with dirt to keep the pot insulated.
One problem is that amaryllis typically grow tall.
Do you have a closed in porch?
I'll think on this tonight; sometimes the best ideas I have are in the morning.
Glad your garden is doing well. Tulips are lovely.
Siberian Squills are just beginning to bloom, in the back yard but not yet in the garden. When they're in full bloom, they cover an area about 50' wide and equally as deep. Lunaria (money plants) should be the next in the early spring bloom parade.
I used to have a lot of double and peony tulips, but apparently the squirrels preferred something else as most of them have disappeared.
We have to come to an understanding. I don't mind their help but I don't appreciate having my landscaping plans altered w/o my permission.
After a quick scramble up a low embankment I managed to find shelter in the entrance to the curling rink, and I'd rather be wet than frozen any day😂.