A Personal Gardening Challenge to Return to Basics
As we welcome another gardening season, I’m excited to share a special journey with you, one that’s a little different from the usual plant-buying spree at the garden center.
This year, I’m embracing a challenge that’s close to my heart: getting back to the basics of gardening. It’s a journey not just about simplifying, but about rediscovering the profound joy and satisfaction that comes from working closely with nature.
I invite you to join me as we explore this together, step by step.
Back to Basics: A Path Less Traveled
This season, let’s make a pact to dive into the heart of gardening, stepping away from the endless cycle of buying new plants. Instead, let’s cultivate our existing gardens, focusing on growing plants from seed, propagating from cuttings, and dividing what we already have to multiply our garden’s beauty.
It’s about returning to the roots of true gardening, where every plant we nurture is a testament to our dedication and love for the green world.
Embrace the Joy of Growing
Imagine the thrill of watching a seed you planted with your own hands sprout into life, growing into a mature, flourishing plant. This magical process never gets old and reminds us of the wonders of nature that we can foster right in our backyards.
This year, I rediscovered this joy while creating a pollinator garden, transforming a patch of lawn into a haven for bees, butterflies, and flowers—primarily from seeds. The experience was a powerful reminder of the simple pleasures gardening offers.
A Season of Learning and Growing
Gardening is more than just a hobby; it’s a continuous learning journey. Mastering plant knowledge, soil management, and the subtle art of observation are keys to becoming a skilled gardener.
This season, let’s challenge ourselves to think about what “enough” really means. How many plants do we need to buy when the real joy comes from growing them ourselves?
Through propagating plants and starting seeds, we engage directly with the cycle of life, learning more deeply about the plants we cherish.
Join the Seed Starting Challenge
This season, I embarked on a seed starting challenge, transforming a little corner of my basement into a nursery for my future garden stars.
Starting with eucalyptus, coleus, and begonia seeds, I’ve now moved on to the bulk of my seeds, preparing for a season full of growth. Many of the seeds will be directly sown into the garden.
This journey was made even more special by sharing it with my mom, reminding us both of the anticipation and excitement that comes with planning a garden.
A Cutting Garden Dream
Inspired by the “Cut Flower Garden” book by Lisa Mason Ziegler, I’m incorporating a cut flower garden alongside my pollinator haven. The idea of growing beautiful flowers for cutting, all from seed, fills me with anticipation for the blooms that will grace my garden and home.
The book has been a fountain of inspiration, offering practical plans for succession planting that I’m eager to implement in my own space.
Spring Cleanup and Planning Ahead
With the arrival of warmer days, I’ve started the annual spring cleanup, cutting back last year’s growth and planning for the season ahead.
This includes creating new beds for my cutting garden, a project that promises to transform my garden landscape and bring new life to my outdoor space.
Join Me in This Gardening Adventure
This season is all about returning to the fundamentals of gardening, embracing the hands-on experience of growing and caring for plants. It’s a journey of discovery, learning, and, most importantly, joy.
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, I invite you to join me in this challenge. Let’s share our experiences, learn from each other, and celebrate the beauty of gardening, one seed at a time.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on creating a cutting garden or any other gardening projects you’re planning this season. Let’s make this a season to remember, filled with growth, learning, and an abundance of blooms. Happy gardening!
As we stand on the threshold of a new gardening season, filled with the promise of green shoots and floral blooms, I find myself reflecting on what it means to truly engage with the craft of gardening. In a world that often values the new over the nurtured, there’s a profound beauty in stepping back, slowing down, and connecting with the fundamentals of nature.
This year, I’m embarking on a personal journey to do just that—to strip back the layers of consumerism and rediscover the core of gardening, where the value lies not in the quantity of plants we own, but in the depth of our relationship with each one.
It’s a path less taken in today’s fast-paced world, but one that promises a richer, more fulfilling connection with the earth and our gardens.
This quest is not just about gardening in a physical sense, but also about growing alongside our plants, learning from the rhythms of nature, and finding contentment in the simple act of nurturing life from soil.
It’s a reminder that gardening is not just a hobby or a pastime, but a way of living that encourages patience, attentiveness, and a deep-seated respect for the natural world.
As we journey together through this season, I invite you to pause, breathe, and take a moment to appreciate the wonders of gardening in its most elemental form.
Let’s embrace the joy of seeds sprouting, the challenge of cultivating new life, and the endless possibilities that lie in a handful of soil. Welcome to a season of growth, not just in our gardens, but in ourselves as well.