“He who plants a garden plants happiness” I like this quote because it is a great reminder of the reward of gardening. There is a happy contentment when working in a garden that can be almost meditative as our mind focuses on the process. Digging in the dirt whether planting flowers or vegetables gives us hope for a future harvest.
Nurseries have a wealth of information to help you get started and they can recommend what to plant for small or large areas. I like to start flower seeds in old egg cartons, the small compartments keep the seeds contained, I do not have to use as much water as when they are in the ground and they sprout fairly quickly. Most of my plants are in containers, even a small space can be used for planting. This is our first year trying to grow strawberries. I can hardly wait for them to ripen
There is happiness in the harvest of fresh grown vegetables and in seeing the burst of colors when the flowers bloom not to mention the happy bees and butterflies that are attracted to the blooms. There is also happiness in sharing the end product of the garden with friends and family and in putting them to use. I love it when someone brings by something they grew in their garden. Fruits and vegetables make a nice addition to our meals and flowers can be dried, pressed or used as a reference for artwork. I especially like painting flowers on rice paper and using the paintings to make cards, bookmarks, wall hangings or candle wrappers.
For the samples shown here I used watercolor paints on rice paper that has been cut to fit a greeting card. After painting the flowers I added the verbiage and mounted the rice paper to cardstock. An edge of handmade paper completes the card.
Whether you are planting a field, a small garden or containers, enjoy the process of planting and waiting for the harvest. When the day gets stressful take a sunshine break, be a kid again and go play in the dirt.