LET LOVE GROW
Buying a first home is a huge milestone, but creating a garden together is the gift that keeps on giving.
As we approach spring and the start of another growing season, we consider yet again the benefits of working in your garden for well-being, and the same is true for the health of our relationships. As a couple, sharing the planning and creation of a garden is a fulfilling and productive way to spend well-earned time together.
In their book The Marriage Garden, authors H. Wallace Goddard and James S Marshall put it like this, “Cultivating a good marriage is like two people growing a healthy garden. To achieve a full and satisfying harvest, the gardeners must work in harmony with one another, using the right tools, gardening wisdom, and a willing spirit. The gardening process teaches us vital – and sometimes painful – lessons about life. The struggle is worth it: both good marriages and healthy gardens can enrich and delight us. But neither happens by chance. Let’s break ground!”
Working together to plan your garden requires you to share ideas, discuss budgets, compromise, and come to an agreement, helping to put in place the building blocks for a successful future.
First home
Whether starting afresh with a clean slate or rejuvenating an existing garden, a new home represents an opportunity to create something that is truly yours. Be sure to take the time and prepare a plan, follow it and, if necessary, stage the work to make your vision achievable. In the planning stages, think about what you want to use the garden for and how much time you will be spending out there.
Planting memories
Your garden can become central to your family’s story by marking significant milestones with plantings or using your garden as the venue for special events. You should factor this into your plans. You may want to add a favourite, significant tree to your wedding register or hold a symbolic planting to celebrate your marriage or the birth of a child. This way your garden will grow alongside your family.
Time to nurture
Set aside time for both developing your garden and relaxing to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Working together on a project is a great way to strengthen your bond and allow you to enjoy your space. As well as adding value to your property, hard work and a sense of shared achievement will fortify your relationship and give you a beautiful space to hang out and enjoy together.