Finding Calm in the Garden: My Journey from Grass to Growth
In 2006, when my ex-husband was stationed in Georgia with the military, I found myself at home with time, space, and a half-acre yard. I hadn’t started working yet, but I felt a pull to do something with my hands, to put energy into the land around me. That was when I first began gardening for wellness.
I started simple: planting crepe myrtle trees, roses, and flowers. I even cut the grass myself. Oh my gosh, that was when I realized how much I loved gardening. Soon, I moved from flowers to vegetables, peppers, tomatoes, and anything else I could coax from the soil. What began as a way to fill time quickly became my pathway to gardening for stress relief.
When we later moved from Macon, Georgia, to California, I brought that passion with me. Once we bought a home, I mapped out my yard and asked myself, 'What do I really want to create?' Trial and error taught me a great deal, but I quickly realized I wanted many fruit trees.
After my divorce, I looked at the grass in my backyard and decided it was wasted space. I ripped it out and transformed my yard. Inspired by a visit to a botanical garden, I created my own sanctuary. I added granite, brought home massive flower pots from Home Depot, and arranged them carefully with fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs. I built my own garden beds with blocks, added benches, and designed every detail with intention. Google became my best friend as I researched and experimented until the space began to feel like a true garden sanctuary.
But gardening became more than just a hobby; it became my therapy. I live with anxiety, and gardening for anxiety and calm gave me peace. Anytime I was sad, stressed, or overwhelmed, I would step outside, put my hands in the soil, and feel better. The work itself, planting, weeding, organizing, was the calm. And when I finished and looked around at what I had created, I felt joy and pride.
Most people wouldn’t think of gardening as relaxing, but for me, it became the exact opposite of stress. It gave me space to process my thoughts, to create beauty, and to stay grounded. I loved working in my yard so much that I set out to help others make their own calming spaces. I helped my sister transform her yard into a peaceful space, and even assisted my cousin, who lives in an apartment, in turning her small balcony into a thriving green retreat. Indulging in the work makes me feel deeply fulfilled, not only for myself, but also knowing I can share that gift of calm with others.
Gardening taught me that growth doesn’t just happen in the soil. It happens inside us, too. Every leaf, every fruit tree, every flower is a reminder of the healing benefits of gardening. Wellness begins with small, intentional steps. And if a garden could bring peace and calm to me, I genuinely believe it can bring peace to others, too.
