Out in meadows and fields, woods and swamps, plants just grow however they do. Dead wood decays and contributes to new humus, flowers bloom and wilt, color combinations are not planned, instead self-seeding nilly willy, and nobody cleans up to make it all look “pretty” to our human eye. Nature is wild and unkempt, which has its own beauty, but it lacks a human sense of order.

During these out-of-the-ordinary times many, including us, have resorted to gardening, a small attempt at controlling something in our lives when so much in the world is out of our control. I feel in charge when I deadhead roses, prune, compose vignettes with different plants that bloom sequentially or follow a color scheme, in order to make our garden beautiful.

There is indeed something controlling about the sense of order and beauty we impose on our gardens. French Gardens may be the most controlled of all landscapes with their geometrically shaped hedges, linear beds, fountains, and pebbled walkways and expanses, although Japanese Gardens are highly stylized as well. An English Garden, on the other hand, is much more free flowing and natural looking.

Loss of control, or even just the perception of it, promotes depression, while control over our life promotes longevity. Control over something, even just our garden, can thus give us a sense of balance and purpose. Have you found activities during this pandemic that give you a sense of control?