When and why did your interest in gardening begin?
I can’t quite put my finger on when, but as a young child, my maternal grandfather (grandad as we called him) was a keen gardener. He had a modest-sized garden, with a small veg patch, greenhouse, lawn and a couple of small flower beds. I would spend time helping him do some weeding, and he would teach me the names of plants.
He would also take me on days out during school holidays to the grand stately homes throughout the north of England. Not so much to look at the houses, but to visit the gardens. Places like Harewood House, Castle Howard, Levens Hall, etc. I loved the sensory explosion of colour, shape, fragrance, different textures and how they felt to touch. But I also loved the sense of peace and calm.
I loved the sensory explosion of colour, shape, fragrance, different textures and how they felt to touch. But I also loved the sense of peace and calm.
Dave
My family lived in a large terrace house, but it only had a concrete yard, and I would often yearn to have a garden. Neither of my parents showed any interest in gardening, but my paternal grandmother (granny) got me a large tub to plant up. Being from Yorkshire, I got myself a small patio white rose, which I looked after for years.
I didn’t particularly enjoy school (in the late 1970s, my first teacher would openly mock me in front of the class due to being naturally left-handed). By the time I left high school, I had very few qualifications. However, I was lucky enough to get a job as a trainee gardener. Initially this was with the local council parks department, then working at a privately owned country house with 120+ acres, of which around 20 acres were formal gardens, kitchen gardens and ornamental lakes.
It turned out I enjoyed gardening for myself, but didn’t particularly enjoy doing it as a full-time occupation. I had a sliding doors moment, where by chance, I ended up briefly working in a large private children’s home as a gardener, before changing roles as a care assistant. From nurturing plants, I moved to nurturing people. From there I went back into education, and eventually qualified as a social worker working in acute adult mental health.
Now, I am in my 50s and enjoy gardening purely for pleasure in my own garden.
What sort of growing space do you have?
My current house was a new build when we moved in. The garden is just the right size for me to juggle full-time work, and keep pretty much on top of the garden (it is about the size of a tennis court).
When we moved in, it was just a newly laid lawn. Over the past few years, I have been landscaping it to create a place for my wife and me to enjoy. It has been a challenge. This is the first garden I have owned with heavy clay soil. We are waterlogged for a couple of months per year, depending on the rainfall. Then, depending on how much sun we get in spring and summer, it can be hard and compact.
We still have some lawn. I have also created a small native species flower bed and a pond to attract more wildlife.
I also grow unusual indoor plants, so I have greenery in the house too. These are mainly Nepenthes and Sarracenias, but also other rare species of plants. The carnivorous plants helped me with my understanding of evolution, and I find them fascinating.
What do you enjoy doing most in your garden?
I enjoy growing roses, through my wife’s love of them. I grow them mainly for her, but I love the colour and scent too.
We have just created a cut flower bed. This way, we can have fresh flowers in the house in summer, to try and reduce our carbon footprint (e.g. not relying on florist flowers imported from many miles away).
I have recently taken up photography, and use my garden for practice. I love being more connected to the seasons via the garden. My job is office-based, and it is easy to forget the seasonality of life. At home, we have things like a small apple tree. I like the bare stems in winter, the leaf buds unfolding in spring, the sweet scent of apple blossom in early summer, and then the harvest in autumn.
I love being more connected to the seasons via the garden. My job is office-based, and it is easy to forget the seasonality of life.
Dave
In the summer, I have a hammock in the garden. I can lie there all day, switching off from the stresses of work, to take in the peace and calm. I am lucky that I live in a quiet cul-de-sac next to a disused cemetery. The wildlife from there comes and visits frequently. I like to take in what I have achieved in the garden, and what I intend to plan with it in the future.
How do you think gardening supports your health and wellbeing?
Being in my garden helps to quieten my mind. Whether I am physically gardening or relaxing in it, I can focus on what really matters in life; my health, my family, my home.
When I am digging, mowing, shearing, weeding, etc., the physical nature of gardening helps me to stay fit. I will often have a good night’s sleep after.
What advice would you pass on to someone starting out on their gardening journey?
Be prepared for mistakes. Some things that should thrive in your space (be it a windowsill or a garden), won’t do as well as you may hope. Keep a journal so you can log what works and what doesn’t. It can also help as a useful reminder of what needs doing at different times of the year (when to winter prune roses for example). I've kept a garden journal for 14 years and love looking back through the photos.
Whatever you decide to grow, grow for pleasure! I know so many people who get fed up with gardening as they try to follow the trends, but not all trends suit all people or their gardens!
Whatever you decide to grow, grow for pleasure!
Dave
If you don’t have space to garden but want to learn, many local authorities can put you in touch with community gardens. I live in a very small city, and I know of at least four community gardens within walking distance. There is likely to be one near you.
How did you come across Thrive?
Through a friend who works at Thrive. I follow your updates on social media - that's where I came across this opportunity to talk about my garden story.
And finally, what are you hoping to do next in the garden?
My next plan for the garden is to get it looking pristine. My garden has always been more organised chaos, which probably reflects my personality! I'm looking to downsize within the next year, so need to smarten it up. I am gutted, as the garden now looks established, not “new”.
Wherever we end up, my wife and I will make sure we have another home with a garden. I will continue what I started doing as a child, by regularly visiting other gardens for inspiration and a brief escape from reality.
Time spent helping others through community gardens and projects has in turn helped Sean connect with like-minded people. He shares his story and answers our questions here.
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