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?
Hoping you are soon up and gardening!
I have felt the need to prepare for winter, we still have a little time.
Looking forward to Spring! 🌱
I was just outside, September is just another month of summer here, hot and humid, looking at my limelight hydrangeas. They have such long lasting blooms and when it’s finally fall, the blooms turn a pretty golden brown. I’m looking forward to cooler temps next month and being able to plant snapdragons and pansies that will bloom all winter. To get spring tulips I buy a 50 count bag and let them have a nice 6 week winter in the fridge then plant them in January. They bloom beautifully in March but sadly never return and I’m way too lazy to dig them up and store them.
We are just getting into our gardening season and I am a happy camper. I am so over this heat. Looking forward to being outside without melting.
This summer was so hot that even my watermelon and cantaloupes didn't produce very well, not enough pollinators in the heat.
I'm enjoying seeing the extensive hydrageas along my regular routes as some cling tenaciously to their summer colors, and others bow to the changing weather.
Gardening for me this year just didn't happen; too many health issues to even try. But there's always next year!
The potatoes have eyes,
the corn has ears,
and the beanstalk.
🤣
Just wonderful!
Better than therapy.
"Gardening as Therapy, any advice". 😡
This thread, and the people posting here have nurtured my soul over the years.
There is also so much good advice!
So, even though it is so very hot-too hot for new plants, I am preparing two new, larger square planters. Drilling holes, adding cut up pool noodles in the bottom to save on rocks and potting soil. Then, will just place a smaller plant in a small pot on top, until the heat passes, maybe in October.
Has anyone heard from Garden Artist? Hope that she is still nurturing her own garden, and dreaming of Spring planting ideas.
I also dumped out my pot of potatoes: I've got a nice respectable 10 spuds, 4 of which are a good tennis ball size🥔.
I planted some zucchini in the pot, I know it's late but I've got the seeds so I figured I may as well try.
A friend in Edmonton had an enormous pale blue delphinium which she decided had to go when she had her garden landscaped to be more senior friendly. I was there when the guys were digging it up. The roots went down to China. They had to dig an huge hole to get it out. I was sorry to see it go.
Hoping delphiniums will do well on the cottage lot. It is zone 4a which gives me lots more options but the colder winters lower that to 2 or 3.
cw - I love lilacs - the leaves as well as the flowers. I am sure you found a spot for it.
My early beans are starting to produce, I've got a handful for my supper tonight.
On the other hand my japanese anemones in front are being smothered by the shrub roses and I didn't have my usual show of those lovely graceful white spring flowers. My helpers have been doing a lot of pruning. I may do a bit more so the anemones survive for whoever buys this house. I have a dark red astilbe and a honeysuckle in the same bed that are being crowded out too. On the bed where not much survives except weeds and wild raspberries, my troilus has survived and reproduced another so I will leave it there and just spray round up around it and add some more cedar bark mulch.
Vinegar solution is doing a pretty good job of getting rid of the moss/mildew on the front deck. I will get some of the Natura deck cleaner to see if it helps get rid of what's left.
I am going to make some spicy pickled green beans as well. So yummy with sandwiches or in salads.
There are instructions online, using Neem Oil.
And plant garlic.
The Japanese beetles have shown up and are swarming the peas and beans....
Cucumber beetles won't be far behind (are probably here already) to kill the zucchini and cucumbers.
The corn I planted for decoration is tasselling at less than waist height, so not much decorative value there.
Still no sign of any little pumpkins.
And we haven't had a decent amount of rain in weeks.
Why do I even bother😞.
So far my peppers don't seem to be affected 🤞
My sugar snap peas are beginning to get ahead of me so I think I'll start freezing some, maybe I'll make up my own stir fry veggie mix.
I don't know what is going on with the zucchini, there are lots of little fruits but they aren't getting any bigger. I'll try giving them some fertilizer.
And my romaine needs to be harvested before it bolts but I'm only one person and I can't eat that much salad. Maybe I'll add some to the bag of frozen spinach.
https://www.reddit.com/r/gardening/comments/vprhcb/update_of_the_bunnies_under_the_wheelbarrow_in/
Yeah, I don't use raw sugar, just plain old C&H is what my HB get.
People are funny, most products are made in the same facility with a different label and often times, the same ingredients.
And from what I have read you are not supposed to use "raw" sugar or corn syrup either. A friend of mine "swears" her HB will only eat the sugar water if it is made from cane sugar not beet sugar. I have not had that experience, I do not search out "organic cane sugar" for my HB. Then again she also says her Oriels will only eat Smucker's or Welch's grape jelly. Mine must have a much less refined palate as they have consumed about 5 jars of Aldi's grape jelly this year.
I get 5 gallon pails and when I have used it up I put the bucket outside for the bees to get every little bit.
Am I causing harm? :-/
cw - hope your tomatoes survive.