A gardener stereotype, apparently

I am confused. Not middle aged though.

I've never used the word "pesky". I've got much better stress busters than that. Like the ones I used about the lungwort I was digging out earlier. Why has that stuff got such determined roots?!

I always put it off but when I do get out there I find I have enjoyed it very much (so why do I put it off?)

"confused middle-aged"
DH, who is putting in seeds at this moment, will be pleased to learn that he is still middle-aged although he may not be so pleased about the confused

Gardening is so good for mental health problems

I garden because I have to - otherwise I'd be sat out there surrounded by 'pesky' weeds and knee high grasses. A bit like cooking - if you want the result you just have to do it. Or housework.

If you enjoy gardening (or cooking or housework) that's a bonus.

Simples!

I love gardening! I was introduced to it by my dad and have passed on my love to my son and grandsons. I don't care if they think I am middle aged ( actually that sound quite good to me) and I'm certainly confused these days. My young neighbours have functional gardens with a lawn and a lot of bark to fill in the spaces. My garden is full of flowers, vegetables and lots of fruit. It takes a lot of work but I love it.
The fruit doesn't usually get to the table as the DGC eat it before it gets in the house, but that's why we grow it isn't it?

Enjoying working in the garden just seemed like natural progression to me. When our DDs were small all our gardens (various married quarters) consisted of a lawn, somewhere for the children to play. As the girls needed less full-on care I found I had time on my hands and the garden seemed the right place to spend it. I was nowhere near middle age at the time. I love gardening now, do not regard it as work at all. Our eldest DD and her partner also love their garden, they grow veg from seed even. (I have always managed to kill seedlings). They are neither confused or middle aged. What is our opinion of the Twitteratti?

After a stressful day at work I used to love spending a couple of hours in the garden, it was a great way of switching off.
Now that I'm retired, I enjoy spending even more time outside.
Gardeners are more at one with the earth and her bounties, it works for me!

I'm amazed - they are obviously completely ignorant about gardening. I switched from accountancy to horticulture in my early 30s, and most of the people I learnt and worked with were my age and younger. I know many people can't do as much gardening as they would like until they have more time, but that doesn't make them any the less keen to learn, very knowledgeable in their chosen area and hard-working and organised. It's a huge subject and impossible to know everything. Maybe Gardener's World is to blame for the stereotype - the younger gardeners are rarely shown and main presenters go on for ever - which is fine if you relate to them. I wouldn't wish losing their jobs to younger presenters on them though.

There is a nursery near here that is manned by people who employ various groups of young people to work there - disabled in some way, or young offenders. They obviously enjoy it, and it can be very relaxing - although trying to cut back a rose growing 30' up a house wall whilst standing on a ladder in a strong wind with the thorns whipping against you can be a little stressful.

Is the proper word for "conversant" 'interlocutor'?

It's sad if it has become an older person's activity only ... I guess I am quite old, 60 going on 25, and I love gardening. It's my thinking time. On the other hand, my nephew and his girlfriend, aged 24, have just taken on a huge garden and TWO allotments and love it! He jokes (I think) that there is nothing more attractive than his girlfriend wearing protective gear with a chainsaw in her hands!!

My daughter is a professional gardener and qualified tree surgeon..or in her words ' an Arb' She looks after grounds on large private estates,and she's young, well compared to me of course. She loves her work but I think she works too hard and she's no slouch. Her wealthy clients definitely get their money's worth.

'A great deal of planning and forethought is required' J52? That must be where I am going wrong then

Gardening is good for the soul! I use my gardening time to think through all sorts of things. I can't see how gardeners can be described as 'confused' ! A great deal of planning and foresight is required.

My new garden is a 100ft , lawned, blank canvas ( and I only wanted a small courtyard style!) hey, ho, that's gardeners for you!

X

I am very fashionable when I'm gardening because the trousers I am wearing have a tear at the knee so I can't possibly be 'confused middle aged' can I . I am so obviously 'young and silly'.

H has three ladies that he works for two older widows and a couple in their 50's mowing and weeding etc. He is a keen amateur and certainly no plants man He loves it and this is his fourth season. He also looks after our 50ft sq garden. It keeps him fit and happy and I get to do "my thing" too. Win, win situation.

I hate stereotypes, it's just laziness on the part of the conversant who is clearly grabbing for an image without really working it through. Gardening's trendy amongst the young these days so that shoots that idea right out of the water, doesn't it. Think Alys Fowler (I always want to write 'Flower') for a start...

I'm not a gardener and I have always thought of gardeners, of any age, as much more organised and less lazy than I am.

Someone once said on a forum that rural France is ok for old farts who like gardening. I am happy with that description.
So this morning we will be moving the logpile (couple of cubic metres) so that the wood store can be concreted, cutting down trees and moving rubble in wheelbarrows up a slope.
My neighbours are all still engaged in vigorous gardening in their nineties.
Low-cost, good exercise, cheap food of excellent provenance and something new to look forward to every day. Why would people not want to do it?
P.S. Just heard the first cuckoo.

Ouch! On the plus side, your conservatory door must be very clean for you to have walked right into it.

No I am inclined to think gardeners are more at peace with the world.

Although this morning I went to go into the garden through the conservatory to get the dog off my rockery and crashed into the shut door. It absolutely stunned me and my neck and nose are very sore now.

PS I was digging up pesky dock plants yesterday.