There are as many reasons why gardeners love to garden as there are gardeners. For some, it is being able to bask in the beauty of the heavenly scents and myriad colors of the spring and summer garden. For others, it might be the closer connections we are able to forge with the natural world. For most of us, it is probably all these reasons and many more. As I sat down to write the first post of 2023 and thought about new year resolutions, I reflected on all the reasons why I love to garden. I love how gardening and nature nurture my health and well-being, I love how they humble me and make me realize how incredibly blessed I am to be able to hear birdsongs, smell flowers in gardens and fir trees in forests, witness the changing colors of maple trees in the fall, and feel the sun and rain on my face. I also love how gardening and nature spur on my creative side and encourage me to take chances, to learn new things. With that in mind, here are a few ideas you might include in your gardener’s resolution list for 2023:
- Hang a new bird feeder.
- Create a compost bin.
- Take a gardening class.
- Create a pollinator and/or natural garden space to support native birds, bees, insects, and other wildlife.
- Plant milkweed to attract and support monarch butterflies.
- Build a bee box for beneficial, pollinating, (and non-stinging) bees.
- Provide a water source for birds, bees, and butterflies.
- Make a butterfly puddler.
- Encourage children and others to join you in the garden
- Create a new garden.
Here is my resolution list for 2023 which I hope will enhance my creativity, promote my health and well-being, and further support nature, gardening, and wildlife:
- Start a community garden and wildlife association.
- Add more pollinator plants and create additional wildlife friendly areas in my yard.
- Deliver occasional surprise bouquets to neighbors / organizations to brighten their day.
- Create a scent garden on my deck and by the front door.
- Finish my book by early summer. Start the next one.
- Speak at upcoming national and international conferences – Montreal, Canada, Abu Dhabi, UAE, San Antonio, Texas, etc.
- Take photography courses – beginner and wildlife. Take more photos of the garden and nature.
- Play the piano 3x/week. (Playing music enhances creativity in other areas – such as gardening).
- Learn to speak French more fluently. (I need this for my podium presentation at the conference in Montreal, Canada).
- Make time for informal writing. Try Haiku and write more for fun. I may not have time to write a new post or a research paper every day. However, I can usually find time to jot down a few lines of poetry when something moves me. This in turn, further encourages my creative side for other endeavors.
What are your new year garden resolutions for 2023?
