A gardener’s aim is to grow plants as well as possible in an attractive or productive setting. We all love flowers to look at or for cutting and putting in the house and freshly picked fruits and vegetables provide life and color for our homes. Nowadays we also strive to protect habitats, care for our surrounding environment, recycle where possible and use material from renewable sources.

WHY DO WE WANT A GARDEN?

These days, whether we live in an apartment or house we all want a garden of some kind. If we live in an apartment and don’t have land around us we can still enjoy gardening by having indoor plants in pots. Those with a small piece of land around the house, regardless of size, can lay out an attractive garden. Even offices nowadays have indoor plants: they say plants improve the working environment and increase staff productivity!

THE BENEFITS OF GARDENING

The returns are many but the most basic is the fact that we like to make our surrounding area pleasing to the senses.

GARDENING AESTHETICS

We simply like to see color and green lawns. As a result, the aesthetics play a very important role with all of us striving to create the perfect balance between trees, shrubs, colorful flowerbeds and lawns – all depending, of course, on the size of our individual patch. Some have a gift for gardening and love nothing more than to dig their hands deep into the soil, getting dirt under the fingernails. For gifted people creating a new garden by rearranging the lawns and borders or just simply planting the right plant or tree in the right space can be immensely satisfying. For those less gifted (or interested) with some spare money to spend there is the option of employing a professional to create your garden for you.

GARDEN COLOUR

Most of us want our gardens to be colorful and, although color fits into the aesthetic category, there is a skill in selecting plants for their different colors so that they provide the harmony and ambience that we desire in our garden.
Although some colors can clash many that contrast can produce a dazzling – and very desirable combination. A mix of bright orange and deep blue is very striking. A bed of rich red, oranges and yellows looks wonderfully tropical and fiery. At the other end of the scale, a mix of pale pastel colors lends itself to a more relaxing, soothing atmosphere whilst white gives a very serene look.

GARDENING AND HEALTH

For those who enjoy “hands-on” gardening, this provides healthy exercise. Digging in the vegetable garden, weeding (known to be very therapeutic), turning the compost heap or sweeping up the fallen leaves and wheel-barrowing them away can boost energy levels and provide a fair amount of exercise. With the way life goes nowadays, however we rarely take advantage of the healthy exercise that gardens provide, more often than not leaving the hard work to the helping hand of a gardener.
Whether we are “hands-on” or not we should all take advantage of our gardens to grow something, be it our own fruits and vegetables (preferably organically grown) so that we eat healthy food or plants that need our care and attention.

GARDENING AND RELAXATION
The garden is the perfect place to unwind: to shed the worries and stresses of everyday life. This is why we like to have a verandah or shady area where we can sit outside and enjoy lunch with friends. A quiet corner with a bench seat can be an ideal spot to relax with a cup of tea and a good book.

GARDEN SCENT

Garden scent is another good reason for wanting to create a garden. The various perfumes in the morning or early evening can add a stroll around your garden. Time on the verandah is made that much more pleasant with the aroma of lavender in the air.

There is nothing but benefit to be gained from gardening.