There are only two places on earth I can enter and totally lose track of time. One is a book, the other a garden.
A garden is not the place to bring a cell phone, or even a watch. Once you lean down and pull the first portulaca or plant the first seed you have entered a special zone where your mind refuses to think of budgets or itineraries, won't tolerate a negative thought, or allow a worried frown.
I began to plant my little veggie plot yesterday and, silly me, thought it would be a good time to use my free mind to do plotting on my next writing venture. After all Agatha Christie once said the best time to plot a mystery is when you're washing dishes. It is a mechanical job, leaving the mind free to wander. But, wise garden loving lady that she was, of course she didn't chose gardening as an example. Because it doesn't work. The garden won't allow it.
The garden is a place of peace, a zen world of tranquility. No wonder gardening is considered to be a health benefit.
When you stop for a break, you straighten and look around you in bewilderment, like a time traveller suddenly returned home. But the feeling of goodwill remains long afterwards.
I can't remember who first said 'laughter is the best medicine', but he might equally have said 'gardening is the best medicine.'
A garden is not the place to bring a cell phone, or even a watch. Once you lean down and pull the first portulaca or plant the first seed you have entered a special zone where your mind refuses to think of budgets or itineraries, won't tolerate a negative thought, or allow a worried frown.
I began to plant my little veggie plot yesterday and, silly me, thought it would be a good time to use my free mind to do plotting on my next writing venture. After all Agatha Christie once said the best time to plot a mystery is when you're washing dishes. It is a mechanical job, leaving the mind free to wander. But, wise garden loving lady that she was, of course she didn't chose gardening as an example. Because it doesn't work. The garden won't allow it.
The garden is a place of peace, a zen world of tranquility. No wonder gardening is considered to be a health benefit.
When you stop for a break, you straighten and look around you in bewilderment, like a time traveller suddenly returned home. But the feeling of goodwill remains long afterwards.
I can't remember who first said 'laughter is the best medicine', but he might equally have said 'gardening is the best medicine.'
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