Why do I garden?

Why do I garden? And why do I (sometimes obsessively) think, plan and well... obsess over my garden. It's not like I actually have anything in there at the moment, except for a few garlic plants:

Even though gardening is, for me, a solitary hobby, I do it for lots of reasons:
To bring people together
To make things beautiful
To be a good role model for my kids
To learn how to grow stuff
To have fun and feel happy

Lavender

Roses

Pumpkins

Seattle has about 11 weeks of warm weather per year. Every other day, it rains, it's overcast and it's just not sunny and warm. I'm a native Seattleite, so I'm used to the low grey clouds. When we get a sun break in the winter, I bask through the window for all 8 seconds, soaking up the vitamin D. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a very real thing, even for natives. As a result, I try desperately to take a winter or spring break somewhere hot and warm. Throughout the rest of the Springtime, I plant, and sow and sew and rake and pull weeds and replace dead trees. Because if I don't, the minute the sun comes out, all the work I should have been doing while I was complaining about the weather, is glaringly obvious. There is always something to do on my 2 little acres and I suppose it comes down to having pride in my home, having beautiful, living things to enjoy and sharing that with others.

Firepit made from salvaged bricks

Special Visitor

Garden Fairy

When I design spaces, they're always about being functional and beautiful. My decorating style is what I would call Provincial French, American Cottage- style, with a little bit of English Garden tucked in here and there, and even some Asian accents, depending on where you look. I don't tend to like anything modern and sleek. They just don't evoke feelings of warmth or comfort to me.

My hardscaping and garden spaces reflect my complete lack of interest in pulling weeds or doing any more maintenance that what is absolutely necessary. After all, I have a family and indoor chores that must be done. There's only so much daylight and everything costs money!

Plenty of work to do here!

Inspiration from Pike Place Market

Freshly picked blueberries from the neighbor's yard

If you see me standing around in my yard with my armes crossed, beware. It means I'm thinking. When I think about spaces and pathways, I'm imagining my friends and family walking, playing and discovering new things. I imagine that a meal has just been enjoyed, that we're celebrating a birthday or life event. I think this August, I'll have a garden party just for the heck of celebrating the work I've done. I'll put a table in the garden, turn on the overhead spiderweb of Christmas lights, toss a few logs into the firepit, grab the bug spray and crack open a bottle of something.

Playhouse and parachute shade-maker for a picnic on the grass

Friends

Pool & slip-n-slide party!

I love being outside and turning "not much" into "something". Someday maybe I'll get to turn "something" into "something amazing!" As an aspiring horticulturist with garden design tendencies, I think I have a long way to go. Hopefully, I'm on the right track.

barefoot in the grass

perfect day for bubbles

baby vs. watermelon