A Garden Sanctuary
Many people use landmarks to navigate where they are going. I’m no different, but I choose to use gardens (and churches!) There is something uniquely satisfying about seeing a well-tended, robust garden. Each time we pass one that I’ve seen before, I’m definitely checking out how the plants are growing and producing since the last time I went by. And when I can, I visit large beautiful gardens. There is a joy and deeply satisfying feeling when I stroll between the joyous plants.
We have a garden, but it isn’t large. We are partial to tomatoes, hot and bell peppers, squash, sunflowers, strawberries, lettuce, and few other plants. But even the few we have are reason to enjoy the bounty of this space. (Travel doesn’t allow for a large garden space, since I loathe waste and there is no way I can keep up with the harvest!)
I also have an herb garden ‘area.’ I love my herbs. I grow, cut and dry them and use them in a variety of ways. Smelling them is one of my favorites, along with making teas. And herbs are low maintenance plants. They require very little work and just keep growing until I finally get around to clipping them back and then they grow again!
Summer is fully underway and while it may not be an ideal time to plant a huge vegetable garden, planting herbs and flowers for the pure joy of their proprieties, scents and beauty is always a good time! And when using pots, the plants are a bit more mobile for retrieving from the cold later in the year!
Gardening in any form does much for our well being. Working in the soil and tending plants is known to reduce stress and anxiety, give a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction and is even believed to help to raise self-esteem.
Anyone can garden, even if a bit of customizing is in order. From the very young, to the adult, the aged and those with disabilities. Each age group can benefit from gardening with just a few adaptations.
Large raised garden boxes are wonderful for the aged and those with disabilities. Be sure to leave wide open spaces between the boxes so a wheelchair or other wheeled chair can be maneuvered in the area. Planting pots can also be an alternative, just placed on the porch so the sun can reach them during the summer and brought in when the weather turns cold. And for the very young, a few simple plants is likely best, while the child learns the skills of watering and otherwise tending their plants.
Herbs—A Source of Joy
For the aged and those with disabilities an herb and/or a flower garden, whatever the size, can be a sanctuary in which to ‘recharge’ and ‘unwind’. Working with plants like lavender and camomile are known by just the scents to calm and soothe the rattled mind. They have beautiful flowers and each can be used in a variety of ways.
Mint is another plant which has a unique scent, taste and texture and other valuable properties to an herbalist. I recommend placing your mint plant in a pot since it is an ‘aggressive’ plant, because it is prolific and spreads easily. It also makes bringing it in when Fall arrives much easier too!
Basil (mine pictured) and sage are two more of my favorite herbs and like mint, there are many variety of this very basic plant. These too, have a unique smell and works wonderfully in many of my recipes.
If you are really interested in how to use the herbs you grow to make tinctures, salves, teas and other items, visit your library, or search for an authorized ‘herbalist’ site on line.
Gardening has so many benefits; and when you can do it year ‘round, it’s even better! I hope you’ll give it a try!
Photo Credit: https://www.pexels.com/search/garden/
Photo Credit: https://suite101.com/raised-garden-bed-plans/
DISCLAIMER: This article is NOT for medicinal purposes. Talk with your doctor before using any herb/plant for consumption or for any medical reasons. You may have an allergic reaction or medicine with which it clashes! The plants mentioned are not necessarily FDA approved for consumption.