Reflections - What is a garden for?

What si a garden

Hilary — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:32:33 GMT

My garden is where I feel at one with nature. It's where I can relax and forget work and stress etc. I am never more happy that when I am weeding or planting or just dead heading. My garden is little bit og paradise.

simple pleasures

loulou — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:08:21 GMT

Just wanted to say how much I love this time of year - stepping outside I can almost sense the anitcipation in the air! Everything is beginning to emerge - but ever so slowly it seems - and soon it will be off at a great speed. After two such dismal months, what a pleasure.... Lou

What is a garden for ?

maryrose — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:42:16 GMT

Love gardening.

Gardening is my passion!

My dearest wish is to have my own garden, the home and garden I have now is rented!

Not always the case, but unfortunately I bought abroad and have had to cut my losses!

Also before I am too old to enjoy !

Have now retired so life is slipping by!

However My Garden .............

Make my garden so appealing to people and animals.

Create wildlife areas.

But mostly good old fashioned cottage garden plants and flowers. Repeated planting. Secret rooms,and heavenly scents!

Hopefully so stunning and well looked after.

Green fingers firmly crossed that it would be accepted for the Yellow Book!

That is my one and only dearest wish!

My garden is my life!

One can but dream!

What's my garden for

CharlyD — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:49:21 GMT

Hi, I'm new to this site and have been reading everyone's messages - great!! My garden is pleasure, i never buy more that one of the same plant as there are far too many great ones to fill your garden with the same thing! how boring! It's real therapy to get out there and hoe off a few little weeds - the bleeders! and when my flowers start to but up and come through i love it. I love to see the wildlife in my garden and try to plant things that attract birds etc - much to the amusement of my 2 cats!! I started to grow veg last year so i'm looking forward to next year to do more. We've had a real frost this morning in sunny Devon where i live - but it's still great to get my wooly hat on and go and see whats happening! ...C

More than contemplation

jemima — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:36:49 GMT

I read most of the posts describing a garden's purpose with enthusiasm and interest. For me weeding seems to be the most constructive as unlike almost any other garden task time escapes you but you end up with the satisfaction of defying the unwanted specimens for a few minutes. I am convinced always that more are just lurking under the surface waiting for you to turn your back.

But the reason why I introduced a separate post was to suggest that contemplation (after the work in question is done for the time being) be extended beyond the beauty and joy of the colour, texture and scent of the plants. The myriad ways (far beyond cooking, gardening, botany and medicine) in which the individual species are entangled in our lives are incredible and an added cause for even more awe. The garden becomes a gateway to the world.

whats a garden for

keith harding — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:04:44 GMT

somewhere to rest my soul, learn about nature, help other species survive.

what is a garden for

garry — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:34:53 GMT

It is quite simply what you want it to be - personally I like to sit in it and relax subject to the weather ie not raining

Also i enjoy just pottering away ie pruning/dead heading

Having a conservatory I like to look out on the garden so its important to me to keep it tidy

talking to plants

trish — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:15:28 GMT

Hi all, is anyone else besides me going to admit to talking to their plants? I know quite a few gardeners do so I guess I won't be the only one here :) But who else gives some of their plants pet names. I just posted a picture on another thread of Barry Banana . He's such a presence in the room I feel obliged to acknowledge him when I go in there! I have a similar relationship with Prince Igor when he is in full spike in the border and I have an established conifer down the garden which I think of as female...Zebrina.

Reiki and Plants

Celtic Heart — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:57:04 GMT

Sort of spinning off from the thread on talking to plants, does anyone here give Reiki to their plants? I do, and have also conducted several experiments giving it to some and not to others of the same sowing batch and each time the ones given Reiki grow much bigger, yeild bigger and stronger crops/blooms etc and suffer less pest and disease damage.

Happy Birthday garden

Kesira — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:23:48 GMT

When I first moved into this house the main drawback was the garden. Notedly the back garden. It was very small in comparison with past gardens. The view from the window was of a large and misshapen leylandii, a garage wall which was simply a mass of dead and overgrown ivy and worst of all a HUGE gas tank smack bang in the middle. yes, the middle, who would do that? To the neighbouring side was a broken fence which we were firmly asked by the neighbours 3 days after moving in to replace. No other fences or boundries. Just ugliness and concrete. Oh yes, the concrete! I think it must have been on special offer or something! There were concrete 'paths' everywhere! All around the the perimeter, one through the middle, a huge platform for the gas tank, another huge one for a coal bunker (large enough for a housing estate). It was .. well. I sat there on the day we moved in and sobbed. I just thought it was dreadful and beyond hope and my capabilities. At that monent I saw it all as a huge mistake. But with time I managed to save enough money to pay someone to come and clear it all and relocate the gas tank, etc. After loads of time, money, and hard work. I had a garden! This is now the second year and it's 'birthday' is around now. I know it's not the best garden in the world but I love it and it gives me much joy. I'm in and out of the house to it all the day long. Just wanted to share it with you guys.

Gardening and Philosophy

Dan O'Brien — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:56:41 GMT

Those reading this post might be interested in contributing to a volume I am editing for Wiley-Blackwell on Gardening and Philosophy. I am particularly interesting in contributions from those in the field, as it were, and not just academics. Here's the details:

Normal 0

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

GARDENING AND PHILOSOPHY

Dan O’Brien (ed.)

Research Fellow

Oxford Brookes University

Gardens were important at the dawn of philosophy -- Plato and Epicurus taught in them -- and they raise a broad spectrum of philosophical questions. This book hopes to address those concerning meaning and representation, aesthetics, the good life, political philosophy, ontology and metaphysics, religion and bioethics. Below are some suggested topics, although others are welcome.

§ Epicurus’ garden and its role in his philosophy

§ Plato and the groves of Academe

§ Gardens as representations of nature

§ Can gardens be works of art?

§ Gardens as expressions of emotion

§ Gardening, happiness and eudaimonia

§ Does gardening inculcate ethical virtues?

§ The kitchen garden and self-sufficiency

§ Allotments and socialism

§ Gardens and national identity

§ Can a garden be moved?

§ Is this the same garden as last year?

§ Gardens and religious symbolism

§ Eden

§ Zen gardens

§ Voltaire, theodicy and “cultivating our garden”

§ The ethics of killing slugs and pests

It is proposed that this volume will be published in the Wiley-Blackwell series Philosophy for Everyone. Other titles include Wine and Philosophy, Beer and Philosophy, Food and Philosophy, Pornography and Philosophy, and Cannabis and Philosophy. The series aims to be accessible to the general public and so your essays should not be overly technical. They can, however, contain some serious scholarship. Contributors to this volume will include philosophers, sociologists, political theorists, theologians, historians and, of course, gardeners.

Guidelines for Contributions

Abstract of paper (approx. 250 words) submission deadline: January 15, 2009

Final papers should be between 4000–5000 words.

Abstracts should be submitted by email to gardeningandphilosophy@gmail.com

Yours

Dan

____________

Dr Dan O'Brien

Research Fellow, Oxford Brookes University

Honorary Research Fellow, Birmingham University

Associate Lecturer, The Open University

I Will Build My Love A Bower

schol49 — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:11:10 GMT

Great to See the Forum up and running again

Since last we me met, My Wife and I have been Busy:

I have always loved The McPeake Family Version/Adaption of The Robert Tannahill Poem/Song "The Braes of Balquidder" known to many worldwide as "The Wild Mountain Thyme" I have always been fascinated by the Idea of Building a Bower for My Beloved but it was the difficulty of finding out how to construct such a situation, for instance what was it`s constituents:

Was it parttially drystane dyking?

Was it wood built?

was it Willow Fencing??

Eureka

I suddenly remembered how Walking Sticks were Grown

You bent the Thorn or Willow buried the branch The shoots then became the basic walking sticks or Cromachs

Now standing next to Our Garden Bench was an Upright Willow The So-called Aspirin Tree

So I bent it over the bench tied it down then started to weave the living branches into a flattened arch hopefully as the tree continues to grow downwards it will if I break the soil up will plant itself

The Tree continues to put out fresh branches which I keeep weaving into the living frame

this will be the third year this Autumn since I transformed or morphisised the TheWillow and it`s still going strong

this Year I plan to interweave in some climbing roses whch at present are situated behind the bench hopefully they to will adapt and spread over the canopy I mused on the idea of honeysuckle but thought they would strangle the willow

and decided no but I believe the Roses will operate in a symbiotic way..

Wish me Luck please in my endeavour

gardening

theflowerchick — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:45:58 GMT

Gardening is spiritual. It gets me out of myself. I've been doing this for a living for 19 years and I never get bored. Everything about nature wows me....the flowers, trees, critters, bugs.....all of it. It's pretty cool to get paid (not well) for a hobby.

Nature as Teacher

Neil J Lloyd — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:19:03 GMT

A garden can be so many things. And so many things can be your garden. For me, my garden is my local park where I can wander in wonderment, feel refreshed, picnic, meet, play, be inspired, learn and just be!

Nature can teach us so much about how to live. To explore this concept more, I've invited television gardener, Lynne Allbutt to talk at an event in Cardiff on Tuesday 28th April

For more info and to book tickets see http://www.UniversalGrowth.org

Tickets are just £10 in advance or £15 on the door

Or alternatively 'is a balcony for a garden'?

Callum Saunders — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:57:22 GMT

I've set out to grow a vegetable garden - on my balcony. People are asking what a garden is for on this forum - come and see what my balcony is for by clicking here! The world's smallest, urban vegetable garden! ANY comments, guidance helpful!

A glass of wine....

Suzie — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:37:43 GMT

....after a hard day at work - that is what my garden is for right at this minute, or it was an hour ago :)

Just Joined My Garden

EnglishRose — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:43:21 GMT

Hi, I have just joined My Garden Forum and I am looking forward to joining in discussions with everyone.

Regards EnglishRose[

Aquiring a bit of extra land at the bottom of my small back garden

Annie — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:35:13 GMT

The extra bit of land - would have meant more ten years ago when i was a little more active--substained injury means i have to change what i want from this land ---always grown a little veg among my flower boarders---We laid it to half and a bit to orchard and the other to soft fruit and two large deep raised beds for veg--- 10 %of a acre in all.--and hopefully a small flower meadow through the middle--compost at the bottom as the two horses that belong to my neighbour provide ample manure---but o' to be fit---the best it is --is that it is a lovely walk in the mornings and the horses love the carrots we feed them and the rabbits have not eaten everything left the bluebells alone - we back on to farm land and as we have put tree guards around the fruit trees --the rabbits , bager, mungjack deer have not harmed the trees--it is quite lovely and we hope it will grow into a wildlife haven--the veg bit will be difficult to start with as fertility of the soil in raised beds takes a few years to get right --four crop rotation. nets on the beds against rabbits are more important then against insects as we have a registered bat site next door --cabbage butterflies are not a problem--but a lot you have to just accept as what it is --the ground is not level and very poor farm land and large area's of nettles -- there is newts in the rough areas --so we learn about wild meadow care --and we hope we enhance and do no harm and not lose sight of enjoying the pleasure of it all and leave it a better place then we found it, as all good gardeners do. .

Help need to start school Gardening club

Wild Thing — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:53:51 GMT

Help!! I've just agreed to have a go at running a gardening club at school, ages range from 5 to 8. I am taking over a plot started last year and were busy bringing in the first years harvest of vegetables. These are taken to the kitchen to be used in the school lunches. Although I'm not new to growing vegetables, as I had an allotment of my own some years ago, administrating and organising a club is giving me sleepless nights. I need to know how I can made sure each child has the opportunity to help and in setting up rotas. If there are any teachers or Club leaders that could advise me on how to go about organising 30 enthusastic 6-8yrs I would be very gratful.

through your window

trish — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:36:55 GMT

I'm fortunate enough to be able to see some of my garden through our kitchen front room and the dining/living room windows. This privilege of being able to organise and harmonise the views one sees on a regular basis I think has a profound effect on ones sense of well-being. At the moment I am getting a lot of pleasure from the following plants which are in bloom: Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' through the front window, tall pink Michaelmas daisies and a white hydrangea through the side, and gentians in pots just outside the window with red orange and burgundy dahlias beyond. What's starring through your window at the moment... ?

My garden and what it means to me. As a person of advanced years the tending and use of my garden to provide fresh vegetables not only provides me with a real interest but also is a means to obtaining the necessary exercise to remain healthy. Normal time s

Walter — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:02:48 GMT

New Visitor

schol49 — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:16:46 GMT

Saw Our first HedgeHog in The Garden about Three Days ago, and saw what looked like The Mother Frog in The Pond That pond acts as a HoneyPot .I believe a garden is incomplete without a pond. We do not have a "Field of Dreams" rather a"Pond of Dreams

Basically, just, dig the pond, and the wildlife will come.

Johnny`s Kingdom

schol49 — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:03:14 GMT

One of the Most Interesting Programmes to emerge recently is BBCs Johnny`s Kingdom

which combines Gardening and Conservation

Well Done Johnny Kingdom Long May You May Reign

Sycamore has won the battle we are selling up!

Rae — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:16:23 GMT

Hi all - nice to see you all chatting again - I have been working so not had time to go online. We moved from London down to Dorset and as everyone did we had a bad summer so garden was not easy to establish - took on a house with nothing there but I have laid a lawn and put in some fab plants trying to recreate my haven that i had in my small London garden - BUT - we back on to the park and there is a Sycamore, a huge conifer and a Home Oak (not the usual) at the bottom of the garden just next to our fence so planted in the park. The conifer has dead branches on it and if they were cut down (at the bottom) would create a small window of light, the Oak has been canopied and is quite amazing so can live with that - but the SYCAMORE -aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh. It rains leaves and now sap and insects of all kinds emerge from it. The sap is everywhere and makes all the garden furniture sticky. Birds roost in it and we have piles of you know what everywhere. So bad now that my grandson is not allowed to play in the garden as its just a smelly, sticky nightmare! We have about 6 branches that literally span our garden - you cant see them from the park at all ie if they were cut down no one would notice. But the council will not allow us to cut a single branch down. I have even argued that there is a health hazard in such a smallish garden you cannot get away from the sap etc. So I am selling up - my garden is tantamount to me being a happy human being. Just wanted to share I feel so upset with the council - who just turn round and say no - they just dont seem to realise that this is causing us so much upset and they just dont care! And if we went ahead and just did it we would be fined!

Nourishing all my senses

annycat — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:14:05 GMT

I love my garden for all the nourishment it gives me ... and I give it lots too! But if I need a break, am feeling a bit down, want to celebrate, whatever, the garden always makes me feel good. even when it desperately needs weeding LOL.

It just makes such a difference to go out and be there. Like most of us, I can't sit still very long without wanting to do something, without seeing something that needs doing. gardens are always a work in progress