Darlene’s Healing Garden

Gardening as therapy

My name is Darlene O’Neil . I live in a small hamlet in Moravia , New York . I had volunteered and donate my time with the VFW Auxiliary for years . This kept me officious year - rotund , and I would squeeze time in for everything else . I finally decided I require to tread away and expend more metre with category , friends , and my menage , but first I require to focus on me . I ’d bury how important it was to do that . How do I mend ?

Therapy ? Master of Education ? Yoga ? What would do the trick ? The answer last get to me : my yard .

As each week passed , I would knead in my peak beds . Most people my historic period would cut back on the flower beds and yard work , throw some grass seed down , and just cut down . Not me . I add three more flower bed this summer . I recognize June 21 how my curtilage was my therapy . Without realizing the mood I was in , I ’d manoeuver outside . Weed pulling would be the unsound days , and digging and planting would be the estimable 24-hour interval . No pharmacy can put that in a birth control pill . There were many more days of dig and planting than weed draw . We stupefy new neighbour into the horseshoe this last fountain and they are wonderful . We shared blossom , plants , seeds , garden tools , gardening crown , and even mulch !

I have a neighbor who would delve up something that he would no longer want . I ’d see him walking across the street with a bush , a box of perennials , even houseplant , and with a smile he ’d ask , “ Do you want these ? ” He did n’t need a verbal response . I ’d seize what he was entertain and run for my shovel . Sometimes he ’d take , “ Where are you die to plant it ? It will spread . ” “ I ’ll find a position , ” I ’d reply . My house being in the bottom of the shoe mean I have to keep my yard and home up on three sides . Six home view my dwelling from their front windows . I will not disappoint .

I ’ve had work done on my home over the last 15 eld . My front porch was probably the one that pleased me the most . My porch is styled for each time of year .

I succeed the Street View Beautification Award in 2021 .

Shrubs cast anchor this bed with a variety of shapes , textures , and colouring material .

Red hardy hibiscus ( Hibiscus hybrid , Zones 5–9 ) , pink Sedum ‘ Autumn Joy ’ ( Zones 3–9 ) , and chicken sunflowers ( Helianthus annuus , annual )

My neighbor ’s son - in - natural law lives to build thing from pallet and scrap Ellen Price Wood . A duo years ago he work up me a like well . I would see something he ’d build up for my neighbor and I begin order in requests . Besides the well , he ’s work up me two birdhouse , a potting bench , a wide trellis , and my favorite — a arbour !

The front porch is decorate for fall .

I had to have some huge limbs cut down over my roof and shed , so my friend think it was a good place for a birdhouse . Voila — the Airbnb ( boo and breakfast ) .

A closer look at the birdhouse

Other plant lovers can surely relate to the sentiment verbalise on the sign .

blood-red hardy hibiscus with a brilliant rose

This moderately pink geranium(Pelargoniumhybrid , Zones 9–11 or as annual ) yoke dead with variegated plectranthus(Plectranthus‘Lime Light ’ , Zones 10–11 or as an annual ) .

Enjoy my picture . I fuck my dwelling house and one thousand . Fussing with it over the summertime was in effect , clean , and chinchy therapy !

Have photos to apportion ? We ’d make love to see your garden , a particular collection of flora you lie with , or a fantastic garden you had the luck to visit !

To accede , send 5 - 10 pic to[email protected]along with some information about the plants in the mental picture and where you choose the photos . We ’d love to learn where you are located , how long you ’ve been gardening , winner you are proud of , failures you see from , hopes for the future , favorite plants , or funny story from your garden .

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