The Oxford Dictionary defines a gardener as “a person who enjoys working in the garden”. What a beautiful and inclusive definition – it shows we can all become gardeners. My mission is to help people develop a love for gardening and help make the world greener!
My passion for gardening began as a child growing up in England, watching my mother tend our garden. Specifically, I remember summers full of beautiful hanging baskets, fragrant sweet peas on huge bamboo frames, freshly cut lawns, and a greenhouse bursting with tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.
My mother worked full-time, and our garden was her relaxation space; she is now eighty-six years old, and her garden is still her favorite place.
Why become a gardener?
There are so many reasons to try your hand at gardening. During the pandemic, many of us turned to green spaces to bring purpose and joy to our lives in a time dominated by fear and uncertainty. Studies show that plants can help make us feel calmer, reduce stress, and increase focus. Gardening is also great for physical health, strengthening muscles, and improving coordination, and one study found that gardening was more physically beneficial than walking. Still on the fence? In 2017 a study showed that up to 40% of Americans have insufficient Vitamin D, which is boosted by exposure to sunlight, so the more time we can spend in the fresh air, the better.
The great thing about gardening is that you can learn at your own pace and in your own space; a small amount of knowledge can go a long way. So, where to start?
Take a good look
Walk around your garden/yard/balcony – what do you see? Which plants do well in your space? Where’s the sun in the morning and the afternoon? What do you like about your space and what would you like to change? What is the soil like? Is it moist, dry, sandy, clay-like full of insects/worms? Get a journal and make some notes. See your garden/outdoor space and envision what you want to achieve.
Get out and get inspired!
If you live in the city, visit some urban gardens. The New York Botanical Garden is a must. I studied Landscape Design there and spent many an hour wandering its unique and inspiring gardens. It’s worth a visit, whatever the season and visits like this are a great way to look at plant combinations, observe shrub and tree structures, and discover styles and forms that appeal to you.
The Highline is another amazing example of an urban space maximizing its green credentials. https://www.thehighline.org/. . On certain days it offers free tours, which I highly recommend, and they offer a Guided Meditation Walk you can take solo.
I love to attend “Open Garden” events as often as possible. NYC Parks hosts an Annual Open Garden Day NYC, where community gardens open their gates for a weekend. It’s a great way to see what grows in smaller gardens in NYC and pick up ideas.
Finally, research your local plant nurseries and look around on a quiet morning, making notes and taking photos of plants you like. Most good plant nurseries will have a great selection of shrubs, perennials, annuals, and seeds, and you can then go away and research more about your favorites.
Delve into some great gardening books
It is so easy to find gardening books at your local library, bookstore, or nursery, and I love spending time leafing through the pages and getting
new ideas. My top recommendations for people new to gardening include the following:
— The Complete Gardener by Monty Don
— New Small Garden by Noel Kingsbury
— Complete Gardener’s Guide, published by Dorling Kindersley
And when I am looking for inspiration, here are some of my favorites:
— The Thoughtful Gardener by Jinny Blom
— American Roots by Nick McCullough
From a small seed a mighty trunk may grow
Starting from seeds can help you build confidence and learn more about how plants grow. You can start seedlings indoors in flat trays or buy a small pop-up greenhouse for your backyard. It’s so satisfying and helps foster our interest and commitment to looking after our green friends! As an experiment during the pandemic, my daughter and I started growing lemon trees from pips, and Here they are now, just over two years later. We will have our first lemons in around 13 years!
Take chances
Now you have some ideas and inspiration for your green space, take some chances, buy some plants, and see how they get on. Not all plants will survive in your climate/soil, but if you love a plant, buy it and see if it can flourish. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 attempts to find the plants’ happy place. Gardens evolve all the time, and creating an outdoor space that you love takes time, but unlike indoors, you can change the color, shape, and form quickly and often.
Get in touch
Get in touch if you want more information on items included on my website or need help sourcing plants or containers. Your Garden Story is here to help bring out the gardener in all of us.