Martha Stewart said it best...
“If you want to be happy for a year, get married. If you want to be happy for a decade, get a dog. And if you want to be happy for the rest of your life, make a garden.”
These wise words perfectly capture the enduring joy of gardening. A garden brings so much to one’s life. It’s a place where hope, creativity, and nature come together in a timeless dance. There is really nothing quite like planting a seed and watching it grow and flourish.
With the upcoming growing season, the excitement is building as I work on our field plans and finalize details for this year’s expanded spring growing workshops. Stay tuned — there are some exciting things ahead!
Before a single seed is planted, every garden begins with a dream.
What’s your dream garden like?
Close your eyes and imagine stepping outside your door into a space that reflects you in every way.
Perhaps it’s a riot of colorful wildflowers spilling over their borders, buzzing with the hum of bees.
Or maybe it’s a neatly organized vegetable garden, row by row, bursting with the promise of crisp lettuce, sun-ripened tomatoes, and the freshest herbs for your summer meals.
Your dream garden might even be a serene sanctuary of greens and whites, a place where the worries of the world melt away.
The beauty of dreaming up a garden lies in its limitless possibilities. Before you start planting, you get to envision what could be.
Start with Your Vision
Ask yourself: What do I want to grow? Vegetables to nourish your family? Flowers to brighten your home? Herbs for cooking and tea? Maybe all three? The choice is yours, and the dreaming stage is the time to explore without boundaries.
Think About Style
Are you drawn to the orderly rows of a traditional vegetable garden, where symmetry and precision create a sense of calm? Or do you prefer the whimsical charm of a cottage garden, where flowers and edibles mingle freely, creating a sense of delightful chaos? There’s no right or wrong—only what feels right to you.
Reflect on What Brings You Joy
Beyond aesthetics, your dream garden is a chance to reflect on what truly brings you joy. Picture yourself in that space. Can you feel the sun on your face as you dig into the soil? Hear the rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds? Maybe you’re imagining the satisfaction of snipping fresh herbs for dinner or the pure joy of sharing a bouquet of homegrown flowers with a friend.
Whatever you see, hold onto it. That feeling is your “why” — the reason you’ll return to your garden time and again.
Dreaming about your garden isn’t just a step in the process; it’s a joy all its own. It’s an act of hope and imagination, a way to connect with the seasons to come. So grab a notebook, open the notes app on your phone, or simply let your mind wander. Dream big, because every garden—no matter how small—begins with a vision. And that vision is uniquely yours.
Practical Tips to Start Your Dream
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Let Google spark your imagination! If you’re drawn to the charm of English cottage gardens, search for them online and click on the "Images" tab. Scroll through the photos and take note of the designs, colours, and details that speak to your heart. Let these visuals inspire your own garden dreams!
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Sketch It Out: On paper or digitally, map out your garden layout. Think about sunlight, spacing, and pathways.
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Start Small: If this is your first garden, begin with a few plants you love and expand as you grow more confident.
In the next post, we’ll take the next step: turning your dream into a plan. Until then, let your imagination run wild. After all, a garden is more than what you grow. It’s the joy you plant along the way.
Josephine Neuse said it best: “Anyone who thinks that gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with the dream.”