Zen and Gardening....

This morning in the paper there was an article about Zen and the art of Gardening....which by it's very title...intrigued me. As it's that time of year and summer has finally arrived (we hope!) I read it with anticipation expecting inspiring thoughts on gardening....and I was not disappointed, only because all too often we tend to regard gardening as a chore that we "must get to". This article brings us back to what it really is....a chance to connect with and enjoy our garden and our home.....and in doing so...ourselves. 

You can read the whole article here....and just to note that the article is about Ed Lawrence, a long time Ontario CBC garden host. He is the author of the following......offering these "five seeds of advice for the ideal garden"

* Spend time: "You have to get down on your knees and get close to things," says Lawrence, who refers back to an old Irish saying: "The most effective thing in the garden is the gardener's footprint." The first step is to pick up any garbage left behind by the winter or spring winds. "It doesn't matter if it's your garbage or not. Pick it up. Your garden and your community will look better."

* Power of order: Once the litter is picked up, it's time to put order into your property. "A little order goes a long way," says Lawrence. "Take time after cutting the grass and do some smart edges. It will make a huge difference."

* Inviting walkways: Not everyone has the space or budget to design a wide winding pathway leading to the front door, but you can create the illusion with smart planting. Make a narrow walkway look wider and more inviting by edging and creating beds on either side. If the walk is three feet wide, create a three-foot-wide bed on either side, Lawrence suggests. The final impression will be nine feet of welcome.

* Outdoor rooms: By now, the property and front walk is looking pretty good, but before expanding or creating more garden beds, take a step back and look at this makeover as if you are designing a series of outdoor rooms and ask yourself some questions: How much space do you have? How are we going to use the space? Define the spaces and use the spaces, Lawrence says. And don't worry about what the neighbours will think. This is your garden.

* Sit down and dream: You have picked up stray bits, edged the lawn, planted and now it's time to relax and enjoy the space. "You are going to notice a lot of things and daydream about the next project," Lawrence says. "It could be to create a bocce court. The key is to exercise your muscles and your brain muscle. Gardening allows you time to think, relaxing after the work allows you to dream."

Slainte!!