Gardening is so satisfying

Rowantree - so you dig out the bindweed.
this is going to be harder than I thought.

We had the garden of our dreams a few years back - it was paradise, with climbing roses, trellises, beautiful cottage garden style - it was a great solace to my dear late husband when he was terminally ill.
I've got a tiny garden now with a new build but I've jam-packed it with shrubs and flowers so it's still lovely to go out there and even just look at it. Again, it's a great comfort and good for the soul to be surrounded by nature.

I love gardening, once I've broken the 'it's too cold' barrier. Once out there, I don't care about anything. We have a medium sized suburban garden backing onto a small area of woodland so the back of the garden we've made into a woodland garden - after years being a wild untamed wilderness. There's a herb patch, a pond which DH has recently re-lined and we've dug out the bindweed and other nasties from round it. I'm busy planting up the pond and its surroundings and working my way down the garden, weeding, pruning and re-planting. I'm a plantaholic but sometimes find plants struggle because parts of the garden is heavy, badly drained clay despite adding compost. I've had periods when the garden's been neglected - after my wrist fracture, for instance - and it doesn't take Nature long to reclaim her own. I have a constant fight with bramble, nettles, bracken and bindweed, but I still love it. It's not neat and tidy; it's messy and untamed and my MIL disapproves of it, but it's ours and wherever we go, wherever we move, I want it with us.

I'd rather be out tidying the garden than tidying indoors. So I'll be out mowing both lawns today and ignoring the dusting!

Ah. That blessed time when our hormones turn to horticulture - such bliss !

Sorry Auntieflo -I take your point.I think I have grown to hate it recently because I see so many people seem to 'create' gardens that are little more than sterile box .An outdoor/indoor room.Like some houses near us where every single shrub unit ripped out.Its just,Astroturf flags and outdoor lighting.Poor wildlife.I'm sure your garden buzzes with life.

I've got oregano growing in the lawn!
It has been mown, but it just gets everywhere.

I have currently got celadines, primroses, forget-me-nots, and violets (!!!) in my grass at the moment. And the odd cowslip. Mowing will not be permitted until at least after Easter.

Yes notanan definitely a losing battle. Learn to love their sunshiney little faces.

Lisagran your garden is lovely

I've given up with the celandines Nana3 - they are in the lawn front and back and I used to try to dig them out but they kept reappearing every year. Now I just enjoy them and they die back quite soon. If they're in the borders I do try to get some out.

What's the best way to get rid of the vile bindweed? Preferably without spraying with weedkiller, not my garden but I have promised to help someone else.

I just enjoyed them for 3 years gonegirl but they overrun the whole garden now. Do you think it's a losing battle.

That’s beautiful Lisagran.
I love my garden too ?

I have given up trying to fight the good fight against celandines. I love 'em anyway.

I've been weeding out the celendine all week which is very vigorous in my garden and appears year after year. It looks a lot better and I've put a few new plants in and around and have a satisfied feeling now. I'm not a good gardener but I try and find it satisfying.

We have been in the garden all day today. Plenty of flower beds to be weeded and then strewn with bark chippings. A bit of pond maintenance. Coffee in the warm sunshine. Then a few shrubs to move. Really enjoyed today. Tired now though.

My garden bench does seem to have magical healing qualities though.

Your garden sounds fine auntieflo. Really good. Plenty of habitat for wildlife.

Mine is doing amazingly well looking after it's flippin' self.

Washerwoman, please don’t knock artificial turf. ?
We had it installed nearly three years ago, in our back garden. It was getting too much for DH and me to keep it mowed, edged and tidy. Our health has plummeted, and it was a good choice for us. We have three trees, that provide food for birds and shade for me. There is still have a border under the kitchen window, and borders around the other three sides. They are as crammed as they can be and, happily, we still get birds visiting. I love my garden and when it’s warm enough I shall be sitting out there again. I was out there a couple of days ago planting some dappled shade lovers.

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Another garden lover here - never happier than when pottering outside. Some pics from last year -

I do agree merlotgran, it does keep you sane. I have an average-sized garden, and spend most days (when the weather allows - I'm a fair weather gardener) out there, usually weeding! Despite fighting a losing battle with horse tail, and to a lesser extent, bindweed, I love to be close to the soil.
I also have two large greenhouses with a huge collection of cacti and succulents, which take up a fair bit of time, and my strapline is they are "balm to the soul".

Gardening heals, fact. I am sure if I had not had to give it up because of severe arthritis in my hands I would have less problems now.

Our local MIND has a gardening group, they have an allotment, clear hedges for the N.P. and help some like me who love gardening but are unable to physically do it .

I enjoy it too and always at this time of year find myself surprised to discover how much I’ve missed it over the winter period!

I went out in the garden the other day, just pottered about for a bit nothing too taxing. Later I commented to dh that I felt a bit stiff....what do you expect, you were out there for 3 hours says he!

merlot

I spend hours in our garden.It is why we moved here for the South facing garden,which in our previous houses we never had,and access in the last one was down some steep steps.Here I'm in heaven and actually I've just decided to retire at the end of the year because I want to devote more time to it.I was going to work longer due to the delay in my pension,but we've decided if we are careful we can manage.Your only here once !
It makes me sad to see the amount of astro turf and gardens cleared of all plants etc.I know people are busy,but even when our DCs were little and we both worked flat out DH always found time to cut the grass and I kept the shrubs in order. It is stress busting to garden.Well for me anyway.

so agree- it was too cold today though, and our friends from Kent came over for lunch (well not from Kent, from over the mountain where they have a holiday flat ;) ) -

thought about you J52 - as I saw the plans for the new massive housing estate near your old home- wow. Wonder what will happen to the large badger sett there!

Gardening is keeping me sane.