GARDENING AND NATURE

• To some of us, gardening is an important connection with nature and a great stress releaser.  I love gardening but it is easy to cross the line from fun and relaxation to stress and extra work.  I have tried to keep my gardening to manageable proportions that allow me time to sit and enjoy the product and not always be working.   I have planted more perennials, used mulch to cut down on weeding and used nature as a theme.
                 
• People may love nature and not have a passion or interest for gardening.  That is fine too.  It is better to enjoy a walk in the park or around the block and relax than to pretend that one enjoys gardening like their neighbors or friends.  If you have a yard and you are not one who enjoys hands on gardening, there are many ways to have an easy to enjoy yard that allows you to pursue your other passions and interests.
  
  
• Nature can teach us so much about acceptance and about seeing the whole picture.  A LIVING WELLNESS tip is to allow nature to infiltrate your feelings and to provide an unconditional acceptance to who you are.  It can come from the heat and comfort of the sun, the unbelievable art of the clouds, the fresh smell of the rain, the green of the grass and the trees, the exquisite beauty of a flower or how great food tastes while on a picnic. 
  
  
• If you are interested in gardening be sure to incorporate your interests and out of the box things to make it your garden, not a picture from a magazine.  I love water and have incorporated driftwood into all my gardens.  I am always amazed how well various areas of nature blend together as if they are meant to be.  I am also interested in creating stone sculptures and they are maintenance free once created.     
  
  
• I want to share one final tip.  I have acquired large mirrors from garage sales and have put them up on my fence.  In summer they allow my yard to grow and reflect the plants, driftwood and stones in unique ways.  In winter they reflect the sun on the snow and are beautiful at time with hoar frost on them.
   
• Allow nature to part of your LIVING WELLNESS in your own way.