Monday, May 2, 2011

My Place of Zen

Many of us look for ways to manage the stress brought about by daily life. In planting my vegetable garden, I have found a place where I can leave my daily concerns behind me. My garden is my place of zen--of peace and serenity.

Which is not to say that having a garden, whether it be vegetable or flower, is not work--but then I don't necessarily believe you can only achieve serenity by being still. Taking care of a garden is a daily task, but a pleasant one.

Even a vegetable garden is creative. You get to choose what you want to plant and where. You can have rows, you can plant on trellises, in containers--there's lots of possibilities. Your method of weed and pest control is specific to your needs. You water when you see fit.

And best of all, you can watch something that you put into the ground as a small seed emerge from the ground. It was fascinating to me as a child and it remains fascinating to me to this day.

While your busy tending to the needs of your garden, you are free to let your mind wander. Sure, you could take the concerns of life to the garden with you, but why? What will be accomplished by doing so? Isn't it refreshing to take this break with nature and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents around you?

I hope you find a little bit of zen in each of your days.

3 comments:

Marie Anne said...

I enjoy spending time in my flower gardens (and vegetables too, if I ever get them in the ground), but don't spend enough time doing it. I find myself strapped to this keyboard and need to do better about pulling away.

I’m hosting Z to A in May, but I’m blogging at:
Ross County Roundup

Unknown said...

I find myself in the same boat as you, Marie Anne, but have been making myself go outside at least once a day when the sun shines. Here in Oklahoma that's been a lot more days than for you folks in Ohio.

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

There is nothing like going into a garden to relax. Welcome to the Oklahoma gardening blogosphere.~~Dee