Gardening-An Expression #RainbowGardenParadise

John Pawlett. Garden Thyme runs an informative Gardening site that looks into all aspects of Gardens from Plants to Figures. Go Articles




Gardening-An Expression

Give the same plants to several people, you will see several arrangements. Each one distinct and different, yet, using the same plants.

This is the ultimate reward of gardening- a means to express, to create with the help and inspiration from the gifts of Nature. Gardening is not just physically and aesthetically rewarding.It enriches the spirit. It awakens ones creativity that lies dormant from neglect, or lack of motivation, or a popular excuse, not enough time.

Gardening is fast becoming a popular hobby of the times. From the tropics, to the frigid climes, gardening centers are offering more choices to tantalize even the most conservative taste.

Each year, gardeners look forward with excitement to their gardening; a hobby they take passionately. What new plants are being introduced? What variety of surprises awaits them? The ornamental gardener will be glorious with the new plants or hybrids for the present growing season. The vegetable/herb gardener looks forward with anticipation at harvest time.

With so much variety to choose from, what factors determine which plants to buy? After considering the soil, weather, sun/shade location factors, the choice is all about self- expression.

No two gardens are alike, given the same set of plants. Colors are as revealing as the plants. A conservative gardener will opt for traditional plants. At times, you see the same plants, the same arrangements year after year. Aha!! Perhaps the gardener does not adapt to change too quickly. It may be lack of time, or change of physical health.

Vibrant colors in the garden reflect a vibrant gardener. A garden bursting with colors is very attractive and pleasing to look at. It is inviting.

What about passion? They say red is a color of passion, of energy and courage. Add white to the reds, and the garden beckons the passer-by to take a look. Someone said this combination looks like a candy cane.

My garden is overcome by burst of yellows and orange, not really by choice. Somehow, it gives out a golden glow as the blooms bask in the sun. It reflects my enthusiasm for life. Many of my plants are gifts from friends, treasures for my garden. Yellow flowers remind me of my mother.

Purples and blues in the garden are colors of reflection, of peace and calm. Add white flowers to this and it invites a meditative mood.

After colors, the arrangements of the plants reveal something of the person. I have a friend whose flowerbeds are symmetrical, weedless, picture- perfect, right out of a magazine. Indeed, this expresses her organized way of thinking and living.

A gardener who loves to re-arrange the plants and loves to add new plants and ornaments shows an enthusiastic and energetic spirit, ready to welcome change, eager to experiment.

What about an overgrown garden? Perhaps it reflects someone with scattered energies, at times, a full plate, or one who does not have the time or energy to tend the garden. It may well show one who starts with a burst of enthusiasm that wanes quickly after the planting is done.

No matter how you plan your garden, it is a creative tool that allows you to express yourself. Gardening is therapeutic,physically, mentally and spiritually.

Happy gardening. Don't forget to talk to your plants.

Gardening Basics #RainbowGardenParadise

Gardening Basics


Flowers are the plants that give a garden most of its color and fragrance. Some can withstand the weather on their habitat. Gardeners must plan on how to plant during the months of planting, so as to avoid their growing state. Still, some plants live for many years, flowering every summer.

Some plants have flowers all summer but most bloom only for a short time. Some, like certain rosebushes, have flowers only once during the early summer, but others bloom several times.
Good gardeners learn how long after planting they can expect a flower to bloom. They can work out a timetable of flowers, so there will always be some in bloom. Sometimes, gardeners plant seed in pots indoors at a special time and replant them outdoors before the plants bloom.

Trees provide beauty and shade, and some supply fruits and nuts. Very few home gardeners grow trees from seeds because this method requires more care and time than they usually want to give. Instead, most gardeners buy trees from a nursery, where trees, shrubs, and plants are raised and sold.

A tree grows slowly when compared to a flower, but a tree may live for a hundred years. A tall, sturdy tree is a magnificent reward for gardeners who have spent many years taking care of it. They must fertilize and prune it properly, as well as fight off diseases and insects that attack it.

Many gardeners do not grow vegetables, although raising them is as much fun and no more trouble than growing flowers. Tomatoes, onions and peppers can be raised in a window box. Tomatoes may even grow in flower pot. Sometimes, when the weather is still cool, gardeners plant vegetable seeds in pots indoors. They later remove the plants from the pots and plant them in the ground.

A garden that is little larger than a classroom can provide all the vegetables a family of four will need for a year. After planting vegetables, the gardener must protect them from diseases, insect pests, birds and as well as other small animals.