Does anyone else find gardening therapeutic?

[Spearmint]

I'm attempting to grow some of my own food as I really like the idea of being self sustainable.

Being outside, connecting with nature, watching my plants grow and produce food over time brings about a sense of peace and purpose.

Does anyone else find gardening helps with depression/mental illness?

What are you all growing?

I'm still a beginner, I spent months watering a plant that turned out to be just a weed haha.

I have some capsicums getting nice and fat, also I have planted broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and cabbage seeds a couple of weeks ago.

🙂

[Quercus]

By the way I probably should point out it was a 2015 event. I got all happy thinking it might be this year (I can dream huh).

On a different note my Mum gave me a new succulent plant which had proceeds to Beyond Blue. I was pretty stoked. Two passions in one potplant.

[startingnew]

thats wonderful Nat! 🙂

[Jacaranda72]

I inherited a rose garden when we moved to this house 14 years ago. I’ve learned how to prune and care for them and get so much pleasure in watching their cycle through bare branches in winter to the magnificent first flush of blooms in November. I sit on my front verandah and look at them all like old friends! I have reds, whites and pinks.

Succulents are my next favourite plants. So easy to grow and I like browsing second hand shops for interesting pots to put them in.

[Quercus]

Hello Jacaranda 😊

Your rose garden sounds lovely. Which is your favourite?

I like how you write about cycles. I get the same satisfaction watching the changes on my plot of land throughout the year. Right now it is orchid season. I've found donkey orchids, green hoods, cow slips and spider orchids (red, pink and white so far). Soon the blue leschenaultia will flower and then the pinwheel sundews with their carpet of tiny orange flowers.

There is something about natural cycles I find reassuring and peaceful.

Which succulents do you like best?

[Jacaranda72]

Hello Quercus

thanks for telling me about the flowers you love. I don’t know the names of the roses in my garden! I probably could find out but I just enjoy them anyway. I have a bank of white icebergs which also run all across my front brush fence. Then in front of those I have large bush roses in deep red, light pink, dark pink. You have to walk through or past the roses to get to my front door and they are very admired! Such beauties.

As for the succulents, I planted a large shallow bowl with about 15 different types. Again, it’s out on the front veranda so I can see it every time I go by and it’s a talking point when visitors call around. It reminds me of aquarium coral - all different colours, shapes and textures.

My favourite succulent is the string of pearls. It is so strange to see those green balls! It’s like weird hair or seaweed!!

I’m having a real low patch lately - changing meds and trying to come to terms with anxiety. These forums are helpful to share thoughts with people who understand. Hope you are traveling well.

Best wishes

[Quercus]

Hi Jacaranda 😊

String of pearls are awesome. I love how they look in flower. So unusual.

If you cross paths on the social threads with a member called CMF she loves succulents too and makes homemade succulent terrariums. Perhaps a new project in the garden will help get you through this low patch?

Do you find getting out in the sun and fresh air helps you too? I'm going to go cut firewood and stack it today. The physical work for some reason always helps me feel safe if not better.

It's nice to meet you here. Always lovely to have more garden lovers to chat to in my mind. I hope this week looks brighter for you.

Nat

[Marchaaika]

I also find gardening quite therapeutic, but lost the motivation to pursue the hobby, along with most others, for the past few years. I almost forgot how wonderful it could be, until my mum asked me to completely redo the garden bed in her front yard this past winter as she no longer has the mobility to do it and it was in quite a sad state.

It turns out that she has done me a huge favour and has reignited my enjoyment of gardening, tending to plants and watching them flourish and flower, and spending time outdoors in the sunshine. I find it almost meditative in a way, and very relaxing. I now also have my own growing collection of potted plants around my patio. When I am having trouble coping it is a great outlet and distraction.

[Quercus]

Hi Marchaaika,

I'm glad you rediscovered your green fingers and garden passion.

I suspect gardening is like many other hobbies... Sometimes we need to change it up or it gets a bit stale.

But the sunshine and physical work is lovely.

What did you end up doing to revamp the garden bed?

Lovely to meet you.

Nat

[Panther101]

As a 30yr old guy who had had a mild form of OCD throughout the teen years and has progressively got worse through my adult years to exploding this year... i absolutely ADORE gardening. I am at my happiest and calmest when gardening. Ironically i don't care how dirty my hands get or how rough my skin gets because im actually doing something and what i am doing is all i can think about.

[Quercus]

Hi Panther101 and thank you for sharing your story with us. That made me smile.

I feel the same about the dirt and hard work (it's all just part of the charm of gardening).

What sort of things do you like best? I seem to collect cuttings and seeds and experiment with propagation. It is very rewarding and low cost.

I'm curious... What is it about focusing on the gardening tasks that helps you with your OCD?

Nat