Every year is challenging to someone. At Gardenista, we have plenty of reasons to feel grateful as this year’s growing season ends.
As a gardener, I thoroughly appreciate and strive for as many pollinators and beneficial insects as I can get into my garden (and my clients’ gardens).
Photograph by Eli Christman via Flickr.
Small Friends
As gardeners, we can show our gratitude for small friends by using organic products, practicing natural and safe pest control—and picking up a worm now and then, to cup it in a palm and say thank you to its face.
The Solace of Soil
Photograph by Erin Boyle.
We are thankful for the basics: The soil, the sun, and rain that allow our plants to grow and thrive. Gardeners also appreciate all the small things the soil nurtures, from microscopic bacteria to barely visible wildflower seeds.
Plant nurseries and garden shops offer us daily inspiration.
Photograph by Erin Boyle.
Local Garden Shops
Hand forged in the Netherlands, a Sneeboer Weeding Trowel is $45 from Shed.
Sturdy Tools
Photograph by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista.
Ornamental grasses and perennials at the edge of a front garden can be enjoyed by passersby. Well-adapted to local environmental conditions, native plants rule the roost.
Photograph by Thomas Rainer.
Native Plants
For more of this garden, see Bounty from a North London Allotment. We thank our friends for garden therapy sessions, shared obsessions, and a willingness to dig beside us in the dirt.
Neighbors and Friends
Photograph by Howard Sooley.
For more of this garden, see Poppies in Paradise: A Garden Visit in Healdsburg, California. We are also thankful whether we have one pot on the balcony, a small plot in a community garden, or ample acres.
Photograph by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista.
Every Single Garden
Photograph by Mathew Millman courtesy of landscape architect Scott Lewis.
For more of this garden, see Vineyard Haven: A Napa Valley Garden That Belongs to the Land.
The Seasons
Parks and Botanical Gardens
Photograph by Marie Viljoen.
For gardeners, feeling thankful for public garden spaces is like an artist feeling thankful for museums.
“Smart” irrigation controllers, French drains, rain chains, and compost bins—all these modern designs help us deal with drainage issues, excess food waste, and a limited water supply. If so, leave us a note in the comments below—we’re on the lookout for reasons to feel thankful this year.
Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.
Sustainable Landscapes