I didn't think autumn would ever arrive. By the time summer left, its heat had scorched most of my plants and sapped my motivation. Today, with rake in hand, I tackle the falling leaves. Staring at singed hydrangeas and shriveled succulents, I feel as tired as my garden looks.
For some of us, it's the aging process. Either our knees buckle, our hands ache or our back gives out before we complete a chore. For a lot of us, it's unavoidable stress that drains our energy or the unpredictable economy. Out of necessity we start eliminating tasks once enjoyed and hesitating over plant purchases.
Most of us intuitively know that we know that we can't simply walk away from this hobby that captured our hearts. For me, being present here in this garden of mine is where I harvest the invisible blessings that feed my soul and enlarge my life. Tranquility, Purpose. Exercise. Restoration. With each passing year I realize “Why I garden” is more important than “what I plant” or “where I garden.”
So how do we begin to invigorate our gardens and ourselves without spending a fortune or expending more energy than we have?
Sometimes much needed inspiration is as close as a neighbor's backyard. My friend Phyllis has a backyard in Dixon that pops with ideas — including the old fence and an old tree stump. It's a reminder of how far one's creativity can stretch with just a dab of paint and the repurposing of items.
Wherever you garden — whether window sill, patio or deck, flowerbed or a half acre — may these snapshots inspire you to envision a planting future with you still in it.