Why Garden?
By Hilda M. Morrill
March 14, 2007

With its catchy theme, “Yes, You Can!,” this year’s N.E. Spring Flower Show at the Bayside Exposition Center in Boston (March 17-25) will encourage you to garden in one way or another. But, why garden?

Ask any gardener today why he or she gardens and you’ll get a variety of reasons why it’s important. The National Garden Bureau has published a list of the top reasons. We share some of them with you: Garden to add beauty, Garden to be creative, Garden to learn; Garden to meet people; and Garden for exercise, just to name a few. 

Garden to add beauty. A house with a nice yard is a pleasure to look at and satisfying to live in. Your home can be made more inviting simply by adding a container of colorful flowers near the front door. 

Trees and shrubs not only provide color and shade, but they also provide shelter for birds and wildlife. Think of the garden as another room to be enjoyed, whether you are inside or outside the house.

Garden to be creative. Gardening provides an outlet for creative and artistic expression. A garden’s design can reflect a personal sense of style such as a romantic cottage garden or a peaceful Japanese garden, as well as provide a showcase for art and sculpture. 

Like to try something new? With the wide variety of seeds, bulbs and plants available in garden centers today, it’s easy to experiment with new plants or change a garden’s color scheme every year.

Garden to learn. Gardeners find that the more they learn about plants and gardening, the more they want to know. There are a variety of ways to increase gardening know-how such as seminars, Master Gardener programs, vocational courses and formal degree programs at colleges or universities.

Garden to meet people. Gardening is a great way to expand your social circle. Whether it’s with someone who lives down the street or halfway around the world on the Internet, gardeners love to talk about plants.

Surplus tomatoes, a bouquet of flowers, or an extra plant, are gifts to be shared with friends and neighbors. Meeting other gardeners through garden clubs, plant organizations, and gardening Web sites is an easy way to share information, ask questions and get involved.

Garden to exercise. Tired of the gym routine? Get a good workout without even thinking about it. Gardening activities provide both cardio and aerobic exercise. Studies show that an hour of moderate gardening can burn up to 300 calories for women, and almost 400 calories for men.

For older people, especially women, gardening can help reduce osteoporosis. Mowing the grass is like taking a vigorous walk; bending and stretching to plant a garden compares to an exercise class; while hauling plants and soil is similar to weightlifting. 

Adaptive tools help those whose physical limitations prevent some activities. And after you’re finished, you see immediate results in your garden.

The National Garden Bureau encourages us all to discover our own reasons for becoming gardeners. Whatever reason appeals to you, gardening is a satisfying activity that provides a lifetime of benefits.

Enjoy!

(We thank the National Garden Bureau, Inc. and Janis Kieft for providing information used in this article.)