Creative Gardening

​“Garden-making is creative work, just as much as painting or writing a poem.”  ~Hanna Rion

I don’t think much about creativity when I garden.  For me it is more about the desired results; fresh fruits and vegetables, cut flowers for a vase, or a landscape that is pleasing to the senses.  Yet it seems “creative” and “gardening” are put together frequently.  A google search with these two terms yields 164 million results!
 I’ve started to view creativity as more central to my gardening just as I would when decorating the interior of my home.  When I look at those Google results they fall into these categories.  

Tips and tricks – there are plenty of “creative ideas” to make your gardening easier.  I would never have thought to use a disposable diaper (unused) to line a pot for moisture retention or use eggshells for seed starter containers.  There are plenty of tips that are more useful such as adding empty soda bottles to the bottom of containers to reduce the potting soil needed. 

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Design features - color, shape, layouts.  By being attentive to design my garden is more cohesive, not just a collection of plants.  I’m also paying more attention to repeating colors and textures of plants in the perennial beds.

Plant combinations – in pots, in the perennial bed, or the vegetable garden.  Although there isn’t much science behind companion planting it is still a popular concept.  Having a recipe for what looks good and goes together is helpful for those of us who are challenged creatively.

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Artsy stuff – adding objects to the garden.  Recently I’ve added a few pieces garden art; no not the cheesy kind but rather some modest sculpture, natural objects (rocks, drift wood), and glass items.  Although I admire the use of found objects, I can’t put it together so it doesn’t look like junk.  
​Containers – there are many ideas in this category.  There is no end to the objects that can be used for containers and the types of plants to put in them has expanded in recent years from the ubiquitous red geranium, spike, and fern combo to anything that grows.  An unusual container can add interest almost anywhere in the garden.  

Harvest – preserving fruits and vegetables, drying cut flowers, taking pictures are just a few creative pursuits that come out of the garden.  I’m using more of my garden pictures to create greeting cards, artwork and adding to my blog.  

​With winter just beginning I encourage you to do some research and challenge yourself to add a few creative ideas to your garden for 2019.