Gardeners have many reasons to love what they do
Since love is in the air today, it seems the perfect time to reflect on what gardeners love about gardening.
Gardening is good for your health. Gardening is good exercise and a lot more fun than walking on a treadmill. According to the National Institutes of Health, 30 to 45 minutes of gardening three to five times a week helps fight obesity. Digging, planting and weeding are good low-impact activities that burn calories. Exercise while gardening has the added benefit of beautifying the landscape while improving physical fitness.
Gardening reduces stress. Connecting with the rhythms of Mother Nature engrosses gardeners in the moment and reduces anxiety. Cultivating creativity also reduces stress. Gardening allows gardeners to express themselves as they create a garden that is uniquely theirs.
Gardening makes gardeners happy. Who isn't happy when they see a monarch fluttering from flower to flower, breathe in the heady fragrance of lilacs or gaze upon a border filled with colorful blooms? Fresh air fosters a sense of well-being and energizes gardeners. Sunlight increases serotonin in the part of the brain that controls intellectual function and mood.
Gardening is financially rewarding. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, just three trees can save between $100 and $250 a year in energy costs. Shade trees and windbreaks can decrease heating bills by 15 percent and the cost of air conditioning by 75 percent. An attractive landscape, properly installed, can increase the value of a home by 20 percent.
Gardeners save money when they plant their own food. A study by the National Gardening Association found the average family spends $70 on their vegetable garden and grows about $600 worth of vegetables in a year.
Gardening keeps gardeners young. Many octogenarians are still gardening. They report spending time in the garden keeps their minds sharp, increases their energy levels, intensifies their appetites and helps them sleep better at night. Recent studies show people who garden have a lower risk of developing dementia than non-gardeners.
Gardening gives gardeners a way to help others. Vegetable gardeners share their extra bounty with food banks. Some open their gardens for others to enjoy and to raise money for favorite charities. Gardeners who are concerned about the welfare of wildlife will plant for birds, bees and butterflies. Others plant cutting gardens and shares bouquets with friends and families.
Gardening is fun and rewarding. What could be more fun than playing among the flowers or cooking with herbs from the garden? What could be more rewarding than growing the perfect tomato or creating a lovely border of perennials? Sure, hard work is required at times, but the garden wouldn't be such a source of pride if it was easy.
Gardeners love their gardens for these reasons and many more. For those currently living life without dirt under your fingernails, consider spending some time in the garden this spring. Enjoy the beauty, fragrance and sounds of the garden - it's so good for you!
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. She blogs at gardenwithdiana.com.