Is there a greater joy than the joy of gardening? Maybe. But you’d have to try pretty hard to convince me. Gardening means we get to take part in nature’s seasonal magic show. Seemingly from nowhere we have brilliant red, orange, pink, and yellow tulips each Spring. In Summer, tall sunflowers shine bright on corner lots and peek in our windows.
It’s not always the big, obvious things that represent the joy of gardening, though. Sometimes it’s the sweet taste of a perfectly sun-ripened cherry tomato right from the vine. Or your favorite farmer giving you a packet of heirloom cucumber seeds. Other times, happiness comes when we see that last flower of the season or watching the bees drift quietly around the lavender.
There’s plenty of fun along the way, too. In Last Blooms, our gardening hero races against the rain to save the last daylilies of the season. And in Watering Cans and Rain Barrels, we learn that the joy of gardening is about taking things slowly and appreciating the quiet moments along the way.
Often, though, the joy of gardening comes from recognizing that no matter what we do, nature is still the boss. Or to put it another way, no matter how many plants you kill, Hostas will make you feel like you have a green thumb. Writer Sue Ellis reminds us of this in A Hosta for Mrs. Malloy.
These and other stories in this collection showcase the small moments when a tiny flower or the taste of a perfect berry makes the world feel like paradise, even if only for a snapshot of time. I hope you enjoy these stories and can give yourself a moment to share in the joy.
Feel free to stay a while and enjoy all the stories about the joy of gardening we have to share below. And be sure to check out our Joy of Gardening Freebie while you’re here, which features a hand-picked selection of our favorite stories from this category.
“Gardening is not for the faint of heart, and never has been,” writes today’s author, H. Ni Aódagain. Probably like you, I completely align with that statement from the piece I’ve chosen for today, “To Garden or Not?” The story here is that the joy of gardening is buried in a lot of work, which […]
I love going on road trips across the country and checking out every plant shop I pass by. I have driven to Florida and picked up citrus trees at the big roadside orange stands nearly every time I’ve gone (and promptly murdered them–sorry orange trees!) I know I can’t plant them in the garden, but […]
Everything you need to know about today’s story comes in these two sentences: “I had never been much of a gardener, but when one acquires a home for the first time, one is motivated to garden. It would become an addiction, one that—I am now 71—has been going for 41 years.” I love stories that […]
Ducks in the garden? That’s not a common problem, I’d think. But then again, if you have a pond or lake near your garden, why wouldn’t it be? Ducks like fresh food too! And while you shouldn’t feed ducks human food like bread, they’ll stay perfectly healthy foraging for cherry and grape tomatoes in your […]
As a lover of garlic scapes—the more-delicious alternative to asparagus—I could hardly believe it when I read today’s piece, Scaping Lessons, and learned there are people on this planet that don’t love them. Sure, I’ve heard of people who don’t know what they are or have never tried them before, but people who don’t like […]
We all love dirt! In fact, we love it so much that we dedicated an entire issue to it. March 2023 brought us “The Dirt Issue.” We delved into “The Smell and Taste of Soil,” explored “DIY Soil Testing for Vegetable Gardens,” and even provided tips on “Composting in the Winter.” We truly wanted to […]
The sun pounds on the nurseries, projecting a warm, brilliant sparkle over the fields of marigolds. These brilliant and dynamic blossoms influence in the delicate breeze, their petals moving like scaled down suns. It’s the level of summer and the marigolds are in full blossom, adding an eruption of variety to the generally green scene. […]
Hello fellow rose enthusiasts! As a member of the GreenPrints team, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement as I write this blog post. If you share our passion for roses, then you’re in for a treat! We’ve recently poured our hearts into creating two new books that celebrate the […]
As a little girl, my heart danced with the anticipation of Spring’s arrival, heralded by the sweet scent of blooming flowers. While others longed for the warmth of Summer, my soul stirred with the promise of new life budding from the earth. Flowers, with their vibrant hues and delicate petals, whispered tales of resilience […]
When we first moved into our home, the backyard was a hodgepodge of shrubs and trees I was unfamiliar with, but the former owner was an avid gardener. On our side yard stood a small, unassuming tree that caught my eye. It was barely taller than me, with glossy leaves. I wasn’t familiar with […]
