Discussion Thread: How did you get into gardening?
Share your story.
No one on my family is what they’d call a keen gardener. I didn’t have Grandparents with an allotment, or memories of actually doing any gardening as I grew up. Although I do remember the garden always felt like a happy place, with picnics, barbecues and paddling pools. My mam loves her garden but she’s the first to admit that she doesn’t really know what she’s doing. She chooses plants based on their aesthetic alone and hopes for the best that they’ll like their chosen spot in her garden.
My love for gardening developed in my 30s, mostly thanks to a weekly visit to the garden centre café and soft play with my youngest son before he started school. Over time, what began as a vague desire to make the garden feel a bit more presentable grew into something much more tangible. Having gone through a tough time of anxiety and low mood there were two things that really helped, journaling and my garden. Both of which now play an integral role in me taking care of my mental health.
My garden is my sanctuary. It’s where I go to relax, reflect, meditate and journal. It’s the place I feel most like myself, most at home.
In this week’s journal I’d love to open up this conversation and hear more about you. How did you get into gardening? Do you have childhood memories of gardening? Has gardening supported you during a tough time? What joy do you find in gardening?
I’ll be checking in on the comments regularly as I can’t wait to hear your stories and chat about all the wonderful things our gardens do for us.
With love,
Claire x
As newlweds there was an empty garden bed in the backyard. I plonked a few herb plants in. They lived AND we could cook with them. 🤯 Every year I have planted more.
Growing up my dad was the gardener I didn't really connect with it. I don't think the plants he grew (mostly succulents which I think you call house leeks?) inspired me. During winter we were always having to bring them in and out of the house. Looking back I can see how much he must have enjoyed that while his health let him do it. He was an amputee so he had a "Scoot and Do" stool with wheels to scoot around the garden.
Honestly?! There was a strip in my ex boyfriends garden and I was always home 2 hours before him so I would make an iced coffee and plant things. Sweet peas went well. There were roses and I would weed too. It wasn’t much but it was so lovely! We had an incredibly magical garden growing up - wooden Wendy house, two huge ponds with bridges over, lots of colour and grasses - it was really special! In my mind I want that for the kids but we struggle with being on a terrace - it’s so busy and fun beyond the garden gate!! 😆✨🌺✨