What are gardeners thankful for on Thanksgiving? First of all, we’re thankful we have gardens, whether it’s a few pots on the balcony, an urban yard or multiple acres. We’re thankful for the soil, sun and rain, which enable our plants to grow and thrive.
Gardeners appreciate small things, from the microscopic bacteria in our compost to the small wildflower seed we plant each fall. Gardeners are thankful for the tools that make digging, weeding, pruning and other chores easier. We appreciate the insect pollinators that cause fruits and vegetables to develop and provide us with food.
We’re thankful for the beauty of our flowers, the freshness and taste of our fruits and vegetables, and most of all, for the peace and serenity we find in our garden.
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With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s a good time to focus on gardening gratitude as the growing season winds down and plants go dormant. Winter is a great time for reflection for gardeners. Take some time to think about your garden and what you love so much about working in it.
To be thankful in the garden is to truly embrace and enjoy the outdoors, working with your hands, and doing something that is both practical and rewarding. There are days when gardening is frustrating or disappointing, but at Thanksgiving remember what is so good about being in the garden. Thank your garden and your hobby for improving your mental health. No gardener needs the proof, but studies show that being outdoors and working in a garden is beneficial. It lifts the mood, gives you a sense of self-confidence, and keeps anxiety and stress at bay.
It’s wonderful to witness the seasons. Winter can be a little depressing for gardeners but take the time to be grateful that you get to see all the beauty of each season’s passing. The cycle of plant and animal life is best witnessed with your hands in the dirt, tending to a garden.
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Pollinators keep gardens going. The next time you get annoyed by a fly or a bee buzzing by your head, remember what they do for us. No garden could succeed without amazing pollinators like bees, butterflies, bats, flies, and other animals.
Gardening is for solitude and socializing. Be grateful for a hobby that allows you the peaceful solitude of a garden and the invigorating togetherness of a plant swap or gardening class.
All gardens are a blessing. Your garden is your home and the fruit of your labors. Take time to be thankful for all of the other gardens as well. You get to see your neighbors’ gardens on a stroll around the block, taking inspiration for plantings. Local and community parks and gardens provide space to appreciate even more plants and all nature has to offer.
As you reflect on everything you appreciate about your garden, highlight it for the Thanksgiving holiday. Celebrate the meal with the fruits of your vegetable and herb garden, use garden materials to decorate the table. Don’t forget your garden, plants, soil, wildlife, and everything else that makes gardening so wonderful as you go around the holiday table this year, reflecting on gratitude.
I would add that gardens touch our souls and help make us whole again — and for that we should be very thankful. In today’s crazy world, we could all benefit from a little more time in the garden.
The Smith County Master Gardeners wish you a very Happy & Healthy Thanksgiving
