watchingthedaisies

The Healing Power of Gardening

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“There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.”

Minnie Aumonier

A Blank Canvas

I received the keys to my current home in September 2010. Sadly, the garden was very neglected, but it did provide me with a blank canvas.   Anxious to transform my little patch of good earth, I quickly put a plan in place for a system of raised beds and gravel paths, a pond, several seating areas, a screen to camouflage my bins and oil tank…

Donegal Garden Trail

In 2007, I worked in the gardens of Glenveagh Castle as part of my Organic Horticulture work experience, and I was very blessed to attend the launch of the Donegal Garden Trail, http://www.donegalgardentrail.com

I decided there and then, that one day I would have a garden in the trail too.

In July 2012, my wish came true and I opened my garden to the public for three summers in all – the proceeds going to my favourite animal charities.

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Accepting Support

You might wonder how I managed to achieve so much in such a short space of time. The truth is I had a lot of help!

Accepting help and support has been one of my major life lessons.

The raised beds were built, top soil was delivered and spread, gravel paths were laid and screening built by a big, strong man as my days of heavy digging are long over.

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Healing

Gardening has helped me to heal on every level:

  • My body has enjoyed fresh air and exercise
  • My emotions have been uplifted
  • My mind has been soothed and stilled
  • My spirit has been renewed…

I love to potter gently in my garden these days and simply watch the daisies.

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Happy gardening….

Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.

123 comments

  6. Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing some research on that. And he just bought me lunch since I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch!

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  9. I would love to get back to the Fort of the Foreigner or, if you prefer, the Land of Connail… yes I learned the translation of the Gaelic names and I also learned the Donegal people prefer Tir Connail. And I’m always up for a cuppa. I’ll let you know when I’m coming once we’ve vanquished the Plague.
    On another note would you be prepared to put a link to my site on yours? And of course I’ll reciprocate

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