As for benefits, this now seems like a bit of a contrived answer, but physical and mental well-being is definitely at the top of my list. As co-chair of the Garden Media Guild, an Instagram broadcaster and a garden podcaster, my time in my own garden is extremely precious. I can lose myself very quickly and forget the pressures of day-to-day life. I was trained as an artist and illustrator and so gardening lends itself to my creative side. I love putting plants together with interesting colour combos, textures and forms to provide year-round interest”.
Gardening does take time and effort, and while at times, it may seem like hard work, the satisfaction and enjoyment which gardening brings is so fulfilling. For those who may be struggling, or are just getting into gardening, Mike has some tips to share:
“Patience! And not to put too much pressure on yourself when you set out on your gardening journey. I think back to when I started and the mistakes I made. Mistakes are learning opportunities. Social media can also be very intimidating. Few gardeners seem to share their failures, concentrating instead upon successes. And finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. There is no such thing as a silly question, and if there is, I’ve asked loads of them myself”.
Thank you to Mike for sharing his story with us. You can find more about his gardening on his Instagram @mike_thegardener and via his podcast – Mic the Gardener with Mike Palmer.
If you’d like to share your gardening journey with us and the gardening community, send us a DM on instagram, or email hello@coirproducts.co.uk.
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