Stop and Smell the Roses 
By Kit Darling

Why do we continue to hear that old trope? And why is it something that we need?

While we may not have thought about it, gardening, gardens are good for our health.

Think about it. You have a ready-made gym to exercise your body and calm you at the same time. And it also gives concrete evidence of effort. I used to say that I could spend 8 hours or more at my desk and go home with nothing concrete to show for it but a tired mind.

When you garden, you bend to pull weeds, maybe do deep knee bends to reach that wayward dandelion. How many muscle groups did you just exercise there?

Stretch up to prune that branch. Lift that bag of mulch. Dig that new flower bed. Rake those leaves. You have done as much or more than you might at the gym. And all while wearing your ripped, stained old jeans and comfortable shoes.

And all that effort also produces tangible rewards. Yes, you are fitter but there are other benefits too. Grow vegetables?  All that effort - you gotta eat them. Can’t let the work go to waste. Oh yes – fresh vegetable, vitamins and minerals that taste good!  Grow flowers – enjoy the colour, truly “smell the roses”.

Meet people and make friends. Pause to chat with passers-by who stop to praise your garden and ask what that plant is. Of course, if you have an overabundance of zucchini, your neighbours might not be so happy to see you coming up the walk to their door, arms laden with lots of zucchini to share.

And when you have finished your day working in the garden, you get the huge benefit of sitting down to gaze on your achievement. Maybe with a cup of tea or a glass of wine in hand. The few aches and scratches pale when you can look at your accomplishment. You have done the work and you have something to show for it.

There have been plenty of studies on the health effects of gardening. It can lower stress levels. You breathe more deeply.

And you get to smell the roses!

And in March – go to the Gage Park greenhouse. Sit and enjoy the hard work of others while you are sitting in a warm place out of the rain/snow/grey March weather.