If you've ever been into gardening, or know someone who is, you've probably noticed how similar it is to pet keeping. Just like having a dog or a cat, there’s attention, love and care you have to give the plants so that they will thrive.
But in increasingly populated cities and our hectic lives, plants become soul-soothing companions who calm down our longing for that inner calmness. No wonder gardening and plant keeping have had a renaissance in times of pandemic. Today, there are thousands of online groups for plant and gardening enthusiasts where they share everything from how to make that soil more fertile to making sure the plants get the right combo of sunlight, to anything in between.
The Facebook group “Creative Gardening” is one such destination, boasting a whopping 1.1M members who happily share their own gardening projects and ideas. We handpicked some of the most interesting and unique ones below, so enjoy!
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My outdoor “painting “. Easel made from tree branches cut from my red cedar, frame found at Goodwill, flower arrangement bought from roadside farm market, hummingbird from DollarTree
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic when lockdowns put millions out of work and headlines forecast food shortages, anxious Americans picked up their rakes and spades. With no social gatherings and so much time spent at home, many people (re)discovered a new kind of hobby– gardening. What happened was incredible: in a matter of a couple of weeks, seeds, seedlings, and fruit trees sold out in gardening shops.
It’s the feeling of well-being gained from nurturing and being amongst plants and greenery that became the main reason why people in lockdown started it. But the surveys show that many of them have kept their gardening bug even after returning to work, meaning the boom is likely to stay.
Our pondless waterfall
Wow! I’m overwhelmed by the responses! We had this professionally done a couple of years ago. We had leftover water coloring from our hot tub (don’t remember the brand), and tossed it in to see what happened. The waterfall is in direct sunlight, so we do have problems with string algae. The rocks were power washed this spring, and I skim out algae as necessary.
Thank you so much for the compliments!
My mom in her garden 86 years young! She goes out everyday to check her babies and give them that special love
Unsurprisingly, “More than half of those we surveyed said they felt isolated, anxious and depressed during the early days of the pandemic,” Ossola wrote and added that “Yet more than 75% also found immense value in gardening during that same period.”
“Whether done in cities or out in the country, gardening was almost universally described as a way to either relax, socialize, connect with nature or stay active,” the professor explained.
I got this from a dear friend and in the wind storm it fell over & was broken but I added some soil & now it’s beautiful again
I'm super lucky that my guy not only loves to garden but is an amazing DIY person! I have the eye for design and color.
He did the pond himself (weeks of you tube videos lol).
When we bought this house ten years ago it was mostly gravel and there was a deck falling apart which we removed
The survey results showed that gardening offered a place of comfort unlike anything else during that chaotic time. “Most gardeners seemed to either experience a heightened sense of joy and reassurance or feel more attuned to the natural world. This seemed to have positive therapeutic and psychological benefits, regardless of age or location,” Ossola explained.
Ossola hopes that gardening, a hobby born out of unique circumstances will not recede into the background any time soon. “Gardening shouldn’t be something that’s only taken up in times of crises. If anything, the pandemic showed how gardens serve a public health need – that they’re not only places of beauty or sources of food, but also conduits for healing,” he stated in a piece for The Conversation.
I had to share this posting from my daughter. I'm serious she can't keep a artificial plant alive but her love for nature is real!!
The hospital I used to work at was designed so there were large flat jutting areas up high. Canada Geese would make nests on them. We would keep an eye on when the chick's would be ready to fly. The physio department would get out extra mats and layer one on top of the other on the ground infront of the nests so if they fell they would have something soft to land on. We look after wildlife too.
My mums old wooden ladder was no longer safe in my opinion, painted and turned into a stand for plants and garden treasures. Matches my house doors, pots and patio chairs, it's not all full yet, but you get idea. Had to add a shim on each support bar as they don't match the height of the steps. Its not level, as the ground isn't level, and I can't be bothered to adjust it, good enough for me!
It’s so hot in Texas, even the sunflowers are trying to stay cool!
VIA JENN PARKER "WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE, I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE WERE NO FLOWERS ANYWHERE. THEN I FOUND A CLUMP OF PEONY ROOTS IN A 3 FOOT SQUARE CLUMP. I CAREFULLY DUG THEM ALL UP, UNTANGLED AND DIVIDED THEM, THEN PLANTED THEM ACROSS OUR 140 FOOT FRONTAGE. THIS IS THE RESULT EIGHT YEARS LATER..."
They look like this in real life ! My neighbor got a bunch and I love them !
If only. I can't keep anything alive even when I follow the advice of very experienced gardeners.
My Dancing Dolphin just keeps going this year. Hasn’t quit blooming since January.
I have never heard of this plant. It's beautiful. What climate do they normally grow in?
Sometimes they sell these at the grocery store and then they go on sale for like $2.50. They will live several years maybe forever if properly taken care of ! They are so pretty
I know they are only geraniums and ANYONE can grow a geranium, but this color makes me so happy
Since the passing of my Husband, my garden is my sanctuary where I can find peace and solitude.
Have a blessed day to all
Hello ! Here are a couple other snaps of areas of my gardens. I designed everything including the She Shed. As well, did most of the work including but not limited to, flagstone, marble and tile. The house and garden was a repo and a mess. I drug in rocks from the rivers of Montana, the beach and many other places. Most of my hard scapes are estate sale finds. I do most of my own baskets and pots. I live in zone 7. W. Oregon. Basically a rain forest. I’m a 3x can survivor. I had a bone marrow transplant 24 years ago and survived it. Therefore, I’m not afraid of much. Especially color. My neighbors love it and bring their guests over. I make my own compost. Baskets and window baskets. Lots of fertilizer. Slow release granules when I plant and water soluble by Proven Winners twice a week when everything is in full bloom. I hope that this encourages others. Happy Gardening!
Thanks for the great idea I'll try at my new place. I can't use succulents outside like this because I live in Canada.🥶 but maybe I might be able to keep some annuals alive.🙏
Having retired and down sizing I was longing for my gardens I had worked to establish for over 20 years When I saw what I was given to work with I was pretty discouraged, but I recited the old saying, “Grow where you are planted” and walla
Here is another area of my new yard. I fell in love with the windmill when we bought the house back in the early spring having no idea that these beautiful purple clematis would bloom
Last year I thought I had over pruned this bush, it only had 5 blooms on it last spring.
Thank you Lord for saving it
I love these kinds of bushes. A yard I drive by all the time has their yard down by the road full of them.
My precious mom my best friend was called home and is singing in the Angel choir.Its been a year,
I started her a Angel garden,where there was once nothing.
That's where my healing begin,I dug up her flowers and plants from her yard and the flowers from her beautiful service and planted them..I know she is SMILING down on me and I can hear her singing Amazing Grace how Sweet the Sound
Today I am pleased to announced it has been raining here for a couple of days, and thanks to my wonderful Grandchildren I no longer encounters a muddy yard. They are still working on a few areas in the yard.
But, the happiest thing was to see my Grandson the one who engineered the project had a Seniors Prom this weekend walked out into the yard with such confidence, while wearing white. He was so proud of his participation, and the outcome, it was evident in his stance. He even chose some of the white Peonies from the garden.
Thank you again my amazing group members for the tremendous amount of blessings and encouragement granted to them. It really empowered them.
My little flower bed I've been working on. I'm 72 and have back surgery and hip replacement in past year and half. Takes me a while to get stuff done. My daughter bought me the big red flower for mother's day. We also live in rockland as you can see. Hope you like it.
I have a lavender rose…
Last year beautiful lavender roses came.
But this year ….. the same rose has red roses..
No idea how this happened….
It’s because the lavender rose is grafted onto another rose, and the original red rootstock rose has grown and flowered instead. Happens in very cold climates in particular. It’s beautiful both ways x
I've been working on these gardens ever since I moved here in 2001. I move things around, change things and add things every year. This year we've had lots of rain so it's pretty green, healthy and filled out. I hope you approve
Ok i had to update and add my Koda boy in too. I’m so proud of being able to grow puppies in my garden. This is Oakley in his favorite spot
I wanted to share something that makes people smile when seeing my garden.
My husband and I made this scarecrow for our close friend who's been sitting bedside her fiancee for the past 3weeks. He had a horrific motorcycle accident.
My scarecrow aka Miss Margaret Marygold and her new friend Miss Tulip, named after the Netherlands home flower for our friend who's still healing in the hospital.
Hoping that when they get to finally come home from the hospital, Miss Tulip will bring them many smiles as ours has brought us in our garden.
Strawflower about to
Bloom. I love seeing the layers before it’s in full bloom.
The painting kind of kills the vibe. But alright the owner loves it, so this is all that matters.
I’ve been so worried about my Dahlias with this Texas heat but they are thriving. I planted tubers early April and didn’t know what to expect but here we are
Made this garden seat/bed with daughters old bed! Cut the base board in half for sides even used the slats for seat all had to buy was the wood for frame! Love freebies from upcycling
You have further inspired me....how do you like my pallet wall. I built it myself....I'm 63...and 5'.... anything is possible
We this amazing plant company that drives through our neighborhood. Pick out your plants, pay and instant happiness. This is located in Munds Park , AZ. 16 miles south of Flagstaff, AZ.
When the short lived Alium flowers lose their petals....spray paint in vivid colors takes over and extends their presence in the garden
Not sure about spray painting flowers, I think I prefer them natural (I appreciate it’s a shame when the colour goes though).
These are beautiful but.....Where I live we're in a drought with 90 too 100 degree temperatures and 30 mile an hour plus winds every damn day. My water and work is going towards something I ( and the local critters) can eat.
How kind of you to take a nice post and c**p on it. I plant for bees and dragonflies and even wasps, because they too are necessary. I can appreciate the lovely, inventive and good use of space. Get over yourself
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These are beautiful but.....Where I live we're in a drought with 90 too 100 degree temperatures and 30 mile an hour plus winds every damn day. My water and work is going towards something I ( and the local critters) can eat.
How kind of you to take a nice post and c**p on it. I plant for bees and dragonflies and even wasps, because they too are necessary. I can appreciate the lovely, inventive and good use of space. Get over yourself
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