What to Consider When Considering Gardening

Let’s hold on to spring topics for a while more, after all, spring is at its best as we speak. 🙂

Not everyone likes it and now everyone has the means to do it, but those of us who do and enjoy it, gardening is a big part of spring. One of the best parts actually.

And it is another great way to spend time in nature; we already talked about how nature is good for us. Now, when we say gardening, this doesn’t limit us; we can plant flowers, vegetables, or herbs. For example, my garden is quite small, so I’m mostly oriented to herbs. I do a lot of parsley and celery, I put parsley in almost everything I eat. 🙂 I’m also big on basil, I love, love, love basil! And since I have basil, why not put tomatoes next to it (they do wonders together, not only on your plate but also in your garden). I’ve got some sage, thyme, there is also a little patch with chard, a bit of arugula, and so on. What’s great about these small plants is that you don’t even need a garden, you can plant them on your balcony. This winter, I even managed to grow some basil on my window, I couldn’t wait any longer for fresh basil. 🙂 And that smell of basil, oh, how I love the smell of basil!

Work with what you’ve got and plant what you love. Even if you do not find enjoyment in gardening, you will find health and satisfaction in eating your home-grown organic veggies and herbs.

Depending on how much space and time you have, and of course, what you like to eat, you can grow:
• Parsley
• Celery
• Basil
• Thyme
• Sage
• Oregano
• Mint
• Rosemary
• Lavender

And for those of you not into edible plants, but more into eye-pleasing plants, well, why not grow crazy with the flowers? 🙂 Depending on how much you like to pamper your flowers, you can choose perennials, which are usually easier to maintain, and some of them keep their green all year round. And if you’re more into annual plants, keep in mind they will probably require a bit more care (not all of them), but oh, how well rewarded will you be. I love dahlias, they come in sooo many colors and they are gorgeous. Also, what’s great about them is that their bulbs survive the winter and surprise you in spring. I have them on my balcony, all around my yard, even in my herb/veggie garden. I also love hydrangeas; they are the first to green up in spring and last to go in autumn, so you can enjoy them most of the year. I prefer to mix perennials and annuals because I love some green all year round, or at least most of the year, especially on my balcony, which I use in any season, so I want it to be pretty. 🙂 But I enjoy planting new flowers so much, and I always keep extra space for annuals, so when spring comes, I’m elbow deep in dirt. 🙂
(Yes, there are many smiley faces in this post, but I just cannot stop smiling when writing about flowers 🙂 )

Again, depending on the space and time you have, here are some flowers you can plant:
• Azalea
• Hydrangea
• Petunia
• Dahlia
• Begonia
• Sunflowers
• Marigolds

Also, you can play around with growing some trees. Ok, that maybe cannot be considered gardening, but it’s pretty and fun, not to mention useful. Some trees work really well in a pot (you might need a bigger pot, though). Olive trees, for example, don’t ask for much: some soil, some water, and a lot of sun make for a happy olive tree. 🙂 I will not BS you, the olive tree I have planted in the ground is much happier than the one on the balcony in a pot, but happy is happy, as long as there’s happiness, all is good. 🙂 But the Japanese maple I have in the pot is just as happy as the ones I have in the ground; I kid you not. No matter what tree you choose, they give that extra something, as well as providing some much-needed shade for your plants, because no matter how much we love the sun, summers can be and usually are, though.

Here are some ideas for trees you could squeeze into a pot:
• Japanese maple tree
• Olive tree
• Kumquat
• Lemon tree
• Japanese willow

One of the great things about gardening – it is never too late, or too early to start. It is for all shapes and sizes. 🙂 It doesn’t matter if you’re 7 or 77, there is always something for you to do in the garden. I remember when I was a kid, I would follow my mum around while she was planting flowers, she would tell me to water them after planting or find something else for me to do, there was always something.
Garden knows no age, no sex, nor color. Garden doesn’t care; it just wants to grow. All you need to do for your garden is to take care of it and enjoy it, enjoy everything it gives you, healthier, calmer, happier, and better you. 🙂

There are so many ways to garden, make it work for you. And just like with anything else, there is no need to do it all at once; start small, learn, have fun. 🙂

I like gardening—it’s a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself.

– Alice Sebold