Gardening: a spiritual connection to the past, present and future
When gardening is more than a hobby
When I began gardening, I never anticipated it would grow into so much more than playing in the soil and watching flowers form and fade in the spring and summer months. Now, it’s the root of year-round joy. From planning and designing the flower or vegetable garden in the winter, to that oh-so-exciting day your seed order arrives, to watching highly anticipated plants popping out of the ground throughout the warmer months and into the fall—visiting the garden (mentally or physically) is where I find peace and comfort in the present, excitement for the future, and a connection to the past.
A connection to the past through gardening
My husband and I live in a suburban neighborhood in Pennsylvania (*waves to fellow zone 7A-ers*). The house we call home is the same house where my mom and my uncles grew up. The home has been in our family since my grandparents purchased the newly constructed small brick home in the 1950s. Much has changed in the world since then—too much to list actually. My grandparents (with whom I was very close) have both passed on. But the lilacs my grandfather rescued from a construction site, the oak tree my uncle planted in his childhood, and the limelight Hydrangea my mom gifted to my grandmother, are still thriving. The raised bed my grandfather built is now filled with Lupines, Bee Balm, and various types of squash. The soil in which we plant and play is still benefiting from my grandparent’s resourcefulness and superb negotiation skills when they secured the excess soil from the excavated basements as the neighborhood was built up around them.
We’ve certainly made changes, and the guilt that came along with removing some plants that were not giving off the vibes we wanted, was a very real result of those changes. Reassurance comes when our extended family and neighbors who knew my grandparents comment on how happy they would be that the yard looks as it does, or that my grandparents would have loved the changes we’ve made.
Staying present
Planting, weeding, pruning and cutting are meditative-like experiences for me. Sure, a podcast may accompany these activities, but keeping my hands busy is a good way to keep the mind focused as well.
I have tried really hard to meditate. I’ve even taken an eight-week in-person course on meditation. As a Type A/Enneagram 3/Pitta dosha (who doesn’t love a good personality test!), I’ve come to terms with the fact that meditation may not be an activity that was made for me. And that’s OK! I’ve found that a few hours in the garden leaves me feeling focused, rejuvenated, and fills up my positivity tank for a few days.
Gardening also helps me to connect with family, friends and neighbors. I hope we’ve all experienced the joy of sharing zucchini or tomatoes from the vegetable garden, or tulip bulbs when it comes time to divide them. It’s a unique feeling knowing something which brings you so much joy is now going to provide that same joy (or delicious meal) to someone you care about.
I’m very lucky to have a wonderful, close relationship with my mom already. Gardening allows us to connect even further through celebrating our gardening wins together, brainstorming on new planting designs and spending quality time together in each other’s gardens. My father-in-law also loves gardening—we’ve had a lot of fun and meaningful conversations while exchanging plants. I’m grateful to have these moments to relish and this space to enjoy as a common interest.
Gardening: another reason to look forward to the future
There’s nothing quite like a new type of bulb that makes you look forward to the early days of spring. Oh, the anticipation! Or the imagination at how your replanted perennial garden will look like come the summer months when the plants have reached their full size. There’s few things that make you look forward to the future like imagining what your garden will look like in a year’s time.
