Bonnie Dr. Therapy Garden.
By Bonnie Doyer
Remember when you were young and did you think anyone you have now (fill in the blanks)? Regardless of the word you put in the blank, these words describe someone who is much more complex, active and contributing than you.
I enjoy my own youthful ideas but when I explore them I have one thing in common with the youth – the responsibility to appreciate nature and to preserve and nurture its beauty. (Thank you, Father Scout.) Gardening is a direct result of this enduring love.
The habit of growing in orchards, small or large, of all sizes or in the gardens of the underground gardens, small or large, has sustained me over the years, especially during difficult times. Every place I called home, and lived in abundance, was filled with vegetation.
We all know that science is about the health benefits of indoor plants and spending time in outdoor, natural settings. Building a garden can be considered a natural setting, but here in North Carolina we are blessed with many natural settings. I was thrilled to be able to build my own gardens in a glorious forest. When I was 73, did I think I could do this job or would I?
We all had a difficult year and it became even more stressful for me to take care of my deceased wife. From time to time, during this plague year, it was easy to see through the windows of my old gardens and the forests. Doing so reminded me that there was a world outside my temporary hospital room. When spring came, when home health care was here, I briefly escaped outside to inspect my existing gardens, once changing weeds and looking for changes in plant signs or disease.
Weeding is an effective way to control anger. “Cursed weed! I say out loud! ”(Yes, I talk to plants, welcome and they don’t accept it.) Enabling healthy growth was something I could not do for my husband. I really like the smell of squash beetle, Japanese beetle, or best of all. how? I get rid of crushing those crystals out of mad satisfaction. “Take that evil invader!” (Okay, I’ll talk to bugs.) Smell Long-lasting scent prolongs satisfaction by destroying harmful substances on my plants. Destroying insects was another thing I could not do for my wife.
Gradually, I began planning a new, larger garden at my feet. I could go out with my wife when no one was around. Can I bring the remains of a dying garden to life? My phone was in my luggage pocket, a new piece of clothing, and I spent a little time outdoors planning a salty, ear-ringing alarm system, my dog alarm system, a bigger, better and stronger mental health support system. Therapy Garden. ”I knew I would need more comfort in the coming months.
I wish my husband could see how successful my treatment was. Taking care of the garden will not heal my heart, but it will nourish my soul in difficult times, calm my anxiety, teach me to accept, strengthen my patience, and give me hope for the future. These are just some of the characteristics that we experience as we grow older.
No one is hopeless.
Printed by Winston-Salem Elderly Pit with permission from Unity University University. Bonnie Dor lives in Winston-Salem with her dog Salti.