A forgotten necessity: How our gardens can ground us

By: Darcy Whalen

Sept 8, 2024

We live in a world today where technology has become such an integral part of our lives. It guides us in just about everything we do. The biggest impact is the way we communicate through video calls, social media, cell phones and the list goes on. We have forgotten how to shut down and disconnect. Our mental and physical health might just depend on it.

Gardening activities can promote health and well-being in so many ways. Relieving stress and anxiety is the number one grounding benefit I get from being in my garden. There are numerous studies that confirm spending time in nature can provide a break from the daily grind. Immersing ourselves in nature can promote mental clarity and balance, providing the grounding we need.

Darcy Whalen

I must bring up the “E” word, exercise. It has never been a strong suit of mine but working in my garden has increased my physical activity level, and I like it! From weeding to digging and even lugging the hose around to water can improve your flexibility, strength and stamina. Spending time outside can also boost our immune systems.

When you plant a garden — whether it is a vegetable garden, a flower garden or a half-acre of beautiful landscape that is filled with an array of diverse plant selection — there is a real sense of accomplishment. Watching your seeds and plants grow into gorgeous flowers and tomatoes can be immensely satisfying. There is nothing more rewarding than giving a friend a bouquet of flowers that came from your garden, not to mention that tomato sandwich made with ingredients straight out of the garden. This grounds us in our ability to create and nurture.

A well-planned garden can support a wide range of plant and animal life. By planting a variety of flowers, herbs, and shrubs, you provide habitats and food sources for pollinators like bees and butterflies, as well as birds and beneficial insects. This biodiversity is crucial for a healthy ecosystem and helps maintain natural balance.

Another huge plus is the sense of community gardening can offer. There’s nothing like a good plant sale to bring out fellow gardeners! Getting to share tips, swapping plants and seeds, or sharing our own gardening spaces, gardening can build a sense of connection and belonging, which can ground us in our relationships with others. Belonging to an organization of like-minded people like the Charleston Horticultural Society can be very rewarding.

Our gardens do more than just provide us with beautiful flowers and plants, they give us the grounding that is essential to our well-being. When we tend to our gardens, we tend to ourselves. If you don’t have your own garden, we are very fortunate here in the Lowcountry to have many beautiful public gardens as well as private garden tours. When you visit a garden, take a moment and fully appreciate what that garden is giving you, being grounded in nature. You will know immediately by the inner calm that comes over you.

Darcy Whalen is the executive director of the Charleston Horticultural Society, an organization dedicated to the preservation, education, and celebration of all things horticulture. Learn more at chashortsoc.org

Article originally published in Post and Courier’s Charleston Choice.