Gardening

[Curry223]

I’ve decided to take up gardening for my mental health. I have always be intrigued by it ever since I was a little kid.

Does anyone garden?

Any tips for beginners?

[Sawdust23]

outstanding choice! I love working in the yard and the garden. It’s very therapeutic especially when the weather is nice. I’m glad you’re taking the plunge. Lots of good insights on YouTube and I’m sure others in the community will offer their assistance. I can say that a little upfront planning will pay big dividends in the long run, in terms of organization and type of garden you’d like to have. Enjoy your new hobby!!

[Rachmaninov2]

I started gardening at the age of ten when I belonged to the school gardening club, I grew marrow and radishes.

I have found sunflowers, marigolds and poppies easy to grow. You could also get packets of mixed annual seeds and follow the instructions on the packet.

If you do begin I hope you find it as rewarding and therapeutic as I always have. Good luck.🪴🌻🌼

[fauxartist]

Great idea.... loose dirt, add compost...and chicken poo.... water as needed and watch your garden grown.... Every climate has some stuff that grows best... bulbs and cabbages in cooler climates... everything grows in warmer climates except the cooler climate stuff may be tougher because cabbage, lettuce, broccoli want to go to seed easier when it gets warm. And bulbs like a frozen ground in winter, but many just put them in the fridge before planting, I never tried that, but I love my tulips, so I probably would.

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to fauxartist]

I love tulips too.

Some of last years tulips.

[fauxartist in reply to Rachmaninov2]

These are just one color...we have red and white, ruffled edged, yellow, white with green centers...on and on...... but I love this pic. if you look closely... you can see the bee coming in for a landing....

purple tulips and bee

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to fauxartist]

Beautiful, I can see the bee quite clearly. I try to get as many photos of bees as I can.

[fauxartist in reply to Rachmaninov2]

I'm deathly allergic to them, but as long as I don't sit on one out in the garden, they leave me alone, and I love watching them and the butterfly's.

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to fauxartist]

Yes, that wouldn’t be a good idea.

Have you got any photos of butterflies?

[fauxartist in reply to Rachmaninov2]

These are just a couple cool shots...one year we had tons of bees, all kinds, and tons of butterflies, all over the herbs...I am grateful for my Nikon...it's a good camera, I use Fastone image viewer with the digital photos to crop etc. Great free tool.

Butterflies and bee

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to fauxartist]

Clever the way you have grouped the photos together. I just use an iPad.

I like all the photos but particularly the blue butterfly, it’s so delicate.

[fauxartist in reply to Rachmaninov2]

Me too... there's another couple of species I love.. one is stellar , I posted it before...and then there is a very tiny little periwinkle solid pale blue one... very cute.

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to fauxartist]

They sound lovely. Butterflies are so fragile and have such short lives.

Wouldn’t it be great if we had a gardening/plants etc forum on HU.

[fauxartist in reply to Rachmaninov2]

Yeah... a nature group...plants, stars, ocean, animals, mushrooms, rain and rainbows, flowers and veggies,etc...what makes you smile

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to fauxartist]

Exactly, it is loosely health related, and can be beneficial in improving mental health for some of us.

[fauxartist in reply to Rachmaninov2]

I think to take it even a step further towards a group that is even more inclusive to include; photography, art, cooking, kite flying, walking beaches, poetry, woodworking, sewing, and other hobbies crafts, and anything that helps you with your mental injury or mental health to calm you, make you feel good about yourself, and basically makes you happy

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to fauxartist]

There used to be a forum during the COVID outbreak called Positive Wellbeing During Self Isolation which was similar to what you describe. I’m sure many people who belong to this forum would welcome it with open arms. 👩‍🍳👨‍🌾🧑‍🎨

[fauxartist in reply to Rachmaninov2]

It was more of a games and chat kind of group, not so much about art and nature type stuff.

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to fauxartist]

True enough.

I felt confident in posting about topics that interest me and which I thought others may be interested in. Whereas I am always concerned about posting too many “off topic” subjects on this forum although done with good intent.

[fauxartist in reply to Rachmaninov2]

I hear ya on that... and it's so hard to keep an interest in an off group here going.... but it's part of our health and wellbeing also to talk about topics that help us with our anxiety and depression and helps us feel good about ourselves...so I don't see that as a problem.

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to fauxartist]

You’re right we should continue to post in the same way. 🙏

[Midori]

It can be amazing for your health, plants don't answer back, and if it's food you are going to grow, you can eat it or sell it!

Cheers, Midori