When and why did your interest in gardening begin?
I grew up in New Jersey, where nature was my playground. But I often visited relatives in New York City and observed an almost absence of nature, which deeply impacted me.
Later, when I got my first house, the outdoor space was very empty of life. Having grown up with nature, I wanted to put plants and nature around my family. I didn’t have much gardening knowledge at this point, so I added the stereotypical foreign plants people often plant. I really liked growing roses, as the soil was loamy, making the flowers gorgeous.
What sort of growing space do you have now?
Today, I live in Missouri, and I have almost two acres of land to manage.
I would now say I’m a native gardener, both for myself and for the planet, for future generations.
Eileen
My approach to gardening has changed significantly. I’m really trying to restore the type of nature that would have been there in the past. I’m replacing the traditional planting style to bring in native plants. I would now say I’m a native gardener, both for myself and for the planet, for future generations.
What has inspired you to want to bring in native plants?
Lots of reasons. The traditional planting landscape across the mid-west United States was generally prairie or savannah, transitioning to forests and expansive waterways. This would see a change from grasses to bushes and trees, then lush plants in the shade of the forest or riparian corridors.
It hasn’t been too easy, making the change to more wild, native planting. The culture in the US is to have gardens that are neat and tidy, growing your lawn to a green carpet. I did try to fit in with this initially, but traditional garden plants just wouldn’t grow well on my land and take a lot of work. Then, a few years ago, I took an online degree in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem from the University of Edinburgh. It really reinforced what I was seeing and helped me put together ecological concepts around native gardening.
For the last six years, I’ve been a member of a native gardening group called Wild Ones. The group is about creating communities of native plantings. We look at other people’s yards to get inspiration on how they use native plants.
I have a big deer problem – the scale is off the charts compared to some areas! So, I wanted to figure out how to deal with many of them looking for food. They need to eat. So, my aim is to work with nature and look at restoring how the land used to be when populations were balanced.
My aim is to work with nature and look at restoring how the land used to be when populations were balanced.
Eileen
I now work as a Therapeutic Horticulture Instructor at Missouri Botanical Garden. Prior to this, while working on gaining a certificate in Horticulture, I took a Soils class. This helped me understand what the soil around me used to contain and started me thinking about how I could add plants to help move the soil back in a healthy direction. I learned that around the city of St Louis, over time most of the soil has been transformed and degraded by people in many ways.
What gives you the most enjoyment in your garden?
By putting elements back that were there before, I get to see life come back in so many forms – the insects, the birds, the snakes; all the animals that used to be here. This gives me a lot of pride and satisfaction. It’s inspiring and hopeful.
By putting elements back that were there before, I get to see life come back in so many forms ... This gives me a lot of pride and satisfaction. It’s inspiring and hopeful.
Eileen
I like to just wander and see what catches my eye and what’s happening. I enjoy peeking and seeing what’s munching on leaves, or puzzling over why a leaf is webbed rolled over – these are nature’s mysteries. I ask myself, why has an animal picked that particular spot?
It can also be zen to not know the answer and just wonder about it.
How has gardening supported your health and wellbeing?
It’s helped me, and it’s also supported the people I work with to connect with nature. I facilitate a class in therapeutic horticulture on the sensory wonders of native gardening. For my volunteer work with native planting groups, I focus on helping people with climate anxiety. Climate anxiety can be very overwhelming for people if they think they don’t have power or a possible solution.
This work has helped me see the big picture. I feel empowered to do something within my means, through native gardening, to help nature and keep food chains supported, along with helping the next generations.
Climate anxiety can be very overwhelming for people if they think they don’t have power or a possible solution.
Eileen
Besides this, gardening helps in so many ways. Digging the soil can make you feel good, as can appreciating scents and noticing patterns of life around you. Like enjoying art, it’s very absorbing and clears my mind.
Physically, it’s also really good. I do a lot of digging, lifting, squatting and shovelling mulch. This all helps keep me flexible and strong. I used to be an occupational therapist. Making exercise more engaging is really important. If you were to ask someone to repeat an exercise 10 times, or to find an activity that uses the same motion, the activity is always the better option – it involves more dimensions of benefit with the brain and body.
Do you have any health conditions that have meant you’ve needed to adapt how you garden? If so, what has been most helpful?
I had a back injury some years ago, and later broke my leg badly. The recovery was long, since it wasn’t set well the first time.
When I’m gardening, I have to half-kneel one way or tall kneel. I use knee pads so I’m more stable. I also use gorilla tubs to move things and have multiple bins, so I don’t have to carry things too far. I’ve also got my tools set up in the garage, so it’s easy to find what I need.
If someone else is experiencing climate anxiety and wants to use their garden to help, where would you suggest they start?
First, find what inspires you. Is it butterflies in the garden or the sight of birds? Do you like growing vegetables?
Then start small. Look for a few expert resources in the area that inspires you.
How did you come across Thrive?
My supervisor, a horticultural therapist, had shared information about Thrive. I dreamed of attending the annual STH conference at some point, so I signed up for your newsletters. I remember reading keenly about a school group with an ecological focus to empower them, knowing they are important to the planet and their communities.
And finally, what are you hoping to do next in the garden?
On a micro scale, I want to move things around to combat the deer problem. I am also trying to make the yard look a bit more orderly to encourage others to plant native.
I want to keep spreading the concept of native gardening. With Wild Ones, we have been bringing in native gardening speakers for my city. We had someone who propagates native plants at one of these events, so people could easily purchase them. I want to expand islands of habitat around me, to help others know how wonderful it feels to take care of creatures that depend on our goodwill with how land is stewarded.
I’ve put up signs in my garden saying, ‘This is habitat on purpose’, to help people understand what I’m doing. People see me out taking care of it all the time, so they know it’s not just going wild! Sometimes, people who are driving past stop in the road to thank me for what I’m doing. That’s very rewarding and makes me feel good. Hopefully, I can help more people embrace native gardening.
For Lara, nature has been an ally to support neurodiversity and accompanying symptoms. She shares her story and the supportive space she has created for others.
