I recently read this article by Ann Wallis. Here she discusses why gardening is not merely a hobby it is a passion and obsession. I find this very interesting. Give it a read.
I never considered myself creative until I took up gardening, but gardening is definitely one activity that brings out the creative juices in even the most creatively challenged of us.
Gardening is an activity that gets in your blood and your bones. It can take over your thoughts and makes you obsessive. A dear friend of mine and fellow gardener sums it up best in her email signature:
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "obsession".
Excessive amounts of time spent on the following activities may be a sign that you have crossed over the line:
Buying gardening magazines
Joining garden clubs
Viewing public and private gardens
Researching your favorites plants online
Spending hours searching for new and interesting plants
Visiting nurseries and botanical gardens near and far
These are all signs that must be heeded!
There is something very rewarding about digging in the dirt and seeing the fruits - or flowers - of your labor. Gardens are a never-ending, always evolving project. You are never done. If a closure is what you are looking for, gardening is not the activity for you.
In spite of your hard work, some of your favorite plants which have been thriving for years suddenly decide to move on, never to be seen again. On the other hand, there are those surprises that you never planted that suddenly appear to delight you for years to come. An exact science it is not. An ever rewarding "hobby" or "obsession" it is.
Joining a garden or horticultural club or association is one way to share your obsession without getting glazed looks in return. Ah - people who understand your passion for hemerocallis (daylilies) and heucheras. Who will share their favorite plants with you and offer you their wisdom to go with it? Life is good.
So nurture your artistic side and let the creative juices flow. But be forewarned. When the dirt gets under your nails the passion may enter your blood, and when that happens, there is no turning back!
