In the Garden: Time with Plants Nurtures Us
Gardening offers so much more beyond tasty herbs, fresh veggies, and beautiful flowers. In its many forms, it can also benefit our minds, bodies, and spirits. When we connect intentionally with our gardens — whatever their size — we start to notice and engage in the beauty of the living world around us.
Tending plants and spending time in Nature helps us settle into the present moment, reducing stress and anxiety as we set our worries aside and relax into our time in the garden. Growing amazing basil or seeing the flowers we’ve cared for bloom also gives us a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment! When other things are challenging or not going quite right, our gardens can be a place of respite and ease.
One of the things my mom and I enjoy doing while gardening is to pause and watch the birds. We also look forward to the praying mantis emerging each year in late summer. As we work with the plants, we build relationships with them and the creatures that rely on them — including birds, bees, and many other pollinators and insects. These little moments give me pause and remind me how gardening nurtures more than just plants.
Gardening is also something we can engage in with others — our families, friends, and our wider communities. Community and school gardens always welcome volunteers, and the benefits include connection, joy, and often fresh produce. My mom and I also enjoy sharing the bounty from our gardens with the local food bank — it adds a lovely sense of purpose and connectivity beyond feeding our family to our garden work.
Our bodies benefit from time in the garden too. Gardening provides gentle and engaging exercise that keeps us moving — supporting continued strength, balance, and mobility. Gentle time outdoors, moving among your plants, helps your body awake and stretch while the sun and fresh air lift spirits.
There are simple ways to experience this in your own garden space. Take your time and enjoy all your garden has to offer — a gardener’s work is never done, and best experienced with ease. While we may not be able to garden quite the same as we did in our younger days, there are lots of tools, supports, and aids to make it easier whatever your ability.
Engage your senses — pause for a moment to smell a flower or rub an herb leaf. Feel the soil between your fingers, look up close at a petal. See all the little details there waiting for you to discover them.
Observe how your garden shifts and changes throughout the day and the seasons. Consider taking your morning tea or coffee outside to simply sit with and enjoy it — without worrying about weeds or things that need tidying. See how light moves throughout the day and where pollinators gather.
From a few containers to a large plot, gardens can bring us much more than joy and satisfaction. Even if you don’t have a dedicated garden space, time spent with plants — in containers, community gardens, or nearby greenspaces — offers many gifts to mind, body, and spirit.
Erin Harwood
50plus Magazine
Erin Harwood is a PNW herb farmer, educator, and nature writer who shares plant wisdom, gardening insights, and mindful connection with the natural world.