You’ve planted your flowers, the vegetables are growing, and the weeds are under control. Now it’s time to enjoy your cozy garden. Time to relax and make the most of all the surrounding beauty.
This can be a hard thing to do… taking the time to just enjoy your garden can be difficult for some of us. When we’re in the garden, we see all the chores that need to be done. We see the flowers that need to be dead-headed, the weeds popping up in the flower beds, and the produce that needs to be picked. It’s hard to relax when we’re anticipating our next garden tasks.
STOP! It’s time to take a break from the chores. After all, if you never take time to enjoy your garden, you’ll burn yourself out and wonder what’s the point of all your hard work.
Why Take Time to Relax…
Recently, I found myself with too much to do and not enough time to just sit in the garden. This summer has been busy. It seems like every other week we’ve hosted family gatherings. As soon as one group leaves, we prepare for the next group or activity. While I’ve been busy in the garden either working or hosting, I wasn’t taking time to relax and enjoy the garden.
When busyness takes over our lives, we must purposely decide to slow down. So now, I’m setting aside some time each day to retreat to my garden. Here are some ways I’ve found to enjoy my peaceful garden this summer. You might find these ideas helpful in making time to enjoy your garden retreat as well.
7 Ways to Relax in Your Garden…
#1 Watch and Listen to the Wildlife
One of the most peaceful things you can do in your garden is to do nothing at all. Just be present. When you sit quietly, you can hear a cacophony of sounds… bees buzzing, birds twittering, squirrels rustling in the trees, hummingbirds flying by. You can see them industriously at work and play… the bees collecting pollen, the dragonflies swooping in to get a meal, and the squirrels chasing each other through the trees.
Choose a specific spot in your garden, and each day spend a few minutes sitting quietly. Think of this as your Quiet Spot. You’ll be amazed at the variety of wildlife that passes by while you’re sitting there.
Just like the wildlife changes as the seasons pass by, your quiet spot can change as well. In the summer, relax in the middle of your cutting garden. During the spring, you might sit near your perennial beds. In the fall, enjoy the wildlife from a hidden area in your garden. And in the winter, choose an area that’s protected, such as a covered porch.
#2 Pray and Meditate
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Your garden is the perfect place to spend time talking to God. Leave your phone indoors and focus on your prayers for the day. Enjoying a devotional or meditating on a specific passage is easier when you don’t have all the indoor distractions of your family, phone, and pets.
Do you need some resources for this activity? Here are a few things you might find helpful when you have your quiet time outdoors.
# 3 Crafting Time
Pull a table under a shady tree and set up a craft station for the afternoon. Whether you’re making a nature inspired craft or creating something from your indoor stash, outside is a wonderful place to work. Here are a few nature-inspired crafts to consider…
- A hydrangea wreath
- Dried flower arrangement
- Pinecone garland
- Pinecone flowers
- Pressed flower notecards
- Dried sunflower wreath or swag
- Fairy garden display
- Garden stepping stones
- Pollinator watering bowl
- Twig basket
- Painted rocks
- Sketch of your favorite flower
- Bug Hotel
Crafting Inspiration
If you need some ideas for crafting in your garden, here are a few products you can purchase for a quiet afternoon.
#4 Invite a Friend for a Visit
What better way to enjoy your garden than to share it with a friend? Choose a time and invite a friend over for a garden visit. Many times, we think we can’t invite someone over unless everything looks perfect. Don’t worry about the weeds or overgrown beds. Just enjoy the beauty with your friend and let the imperfect go.
Start with a garden walk. Most people love to see what others have planted in their garden. And if you have seeds or transplants to share, that’s even better. After the garden walk, find a cozy place to sit and visit. Don’t forget a simple beverage and snack to enjoy.
#5 Plan Your Day
Part of my morning routine is to plan my day. During the warm summer months, I enjoy my morning coffee outside while I plan. You really don’t need much. A chair to sit on and a side table for your coffee. Being outdoors can inspire you as you plan your activities for the day.
You could also use this time to plan your garden. As you’re enjoying your morning coffee or afternoon tea, think about the changes you want to make with your garden structures and plants. The best time to plan for next year’s garden is when you can see the problems of this year’s garden.
#6 Enjoy Afternoon Tea in the Garden
Many years ago, my husband and I took a trip to Victoria, BC. The two highlights of our vacation were a visit to Buchart Gardens and High Tea at the Empress Hotel. That is my kind of vacation… flowers and tea!
I love the idea of enjoying tea every afternoon. While my garden doesn’t look like Buchart Gardens and my afternoon tea is not as fancy as the Empress, it’s a ritual that I try to enjoy as much as possible.
All you need is a beverage and a special treat to make a fun summer activity. Not in the mood for tea? Have an iced latte or a glass of lemonade. Invite anyone who’s around to join you for this little garden pleasure.
#7 Read A Good Book or Magazine
If you have a comfy chair or couch outside, it’s a perfect place to sit and read. Enjoy a great garden book, a seasonal magazine, or a favorite novel. And if you fall asleep while you’re reading, even better.
Here are a few of my current summer reads…
- Three Pines Murder Mystery series by Louise Penny
- Seedtime and Harvest by Christie Purifoy
- Small Summer Gardens by Emma Hardy
- The Best is Yet to Come by Debbie Macomber
Items Needed for Relaxing in Your Garden…
What you need when relaxing will depend on what activity you’re engaged in. If you’re listening to wildlife or watching the hummingbirds, you’ll only need a place to sit. But if you’re painting or crafting, you’ll need a table and your supplies. If you’re visiting with a friend, you’ll want a place to set down your favorite beverage.
Keep in mind that you can enjoy the peace of your garden anytime. You don’t have to plan an activity. Harvesting produce from your vegetable patch? Sit for a few minutes and watch the pollinators. Picking flowers for a bouquet in the morning? Listen to the birds as they go about their day. Dead-heading flowers in the evening, enjoy the beautiful colors of the sunset. Quiet garden moments can happen at any time.
There’s still plenty of time to enjoy the peacefulness of your garden. No matter how busy your schedule is this summer, set aside some time each day to just relax in your garden.