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We love hearing about how your gardens and our Thrive advice have helped support your wellbeing. If you would like to share your story, email info@thrive.org.uk
For Diane, the garden has always been a source of calm and therapy. It’s considerable importance to her only increased as she went through menopause.
From her mid 40’s, Diane began to experience a range of symptoms connected to the onset of menopause. Along with tiredness and discomfort came mood changes, including anxiety, depression plus a ‘foggy mind’. Some of these and other physical symptoms would continue for many years.
In the face of these changes, Diane’s garden became a great source of solace. “At the time, I didn’t realise menopause was the cause of how I felt,” says Diane. “But gardening helped me escape to a place of calmness.”
I didn’t realise menopause was the cause of how I felt … but gardening helped me escape to a place of calmness.
- Diane
As she started to spend every free minute in the garden, she found many benefits: “I love watching seeds and plants grow. It gives me great satisfaction. I’ve really fascinated by propagation and am also saving money this way!”
“Gardening has given me a source of conversation, my own thing alongside family life and growing children. I get great pleasure when people say how well my garden looks.”
Time in the garden has also kept her physically active: “Gardening helps keep me fit – especially activities like digging and raking,” she says.
Starting each day in the garden
Now, the garden is part of Diane’s everyday routine. She explains:
“I cannot start the day without walking in the garden. I watch it change with each season, listen for the birds singing and feel the air.”
“Some of my strength has gone, so I do less in the garden than I used to. But I take time to just enjoy sitting in the green of the garden.”
I cannot start the day without walking in the garden. I watch it change with each season, listen for the birds singing and feel the air.
- Diane
Adapting and growing
With osteoarthritis, a knee replacement and pending hip replacement, Diane has needed to adapt some of what she does in the garden.
“I tire quickly, and my hands hurt more,” she says. “I also care for my husband of ten years, who enjoys messing around in the garden.”
The garden remains a source of immense joy: “We live in what I call a ‘cold hole’ which can be a bit challenging with plants lasting. But I love roses. The path runs with lavender at the front of the house. The back garden is shade/sun on one side. I like the garden not to be tidy – a more natural look, rather than forced.”
“I like to grow plants up so they are easier to reach. I have a very sunny corner for annuals and bedding plants for colour. There’s a stand for herbs; rambling roses and clematis.”
“We live in a more rural area, with wonderful backdrops. My husband built a decking area by a small waterfall. From there, you can take steps up to the field beyond.”
In the future, Diane is thinking of making the garden simpler to manage:
“I’d like to live somewhere with a slightly smaller garden,” she says. “Somewhere I can sit in and feel completely enclosed!”
We love hearing about how your gardens and our Thrive advice have helped support your wellbeing. If you would like to share your story, email info@thrive.org.uk
An estimated 13 million women in the UK are peri or menopausal. Gardening and time in nature can be a great support to your physical and mental wellbeing throughout this time.
