Lately I’ve tackled sprucing up my patio with a few new plants. It was supposed to be a quick clean-up of a space that I’ve long since neglected, but turned into so much more. Not only did I get a huge surprise with the arrival of at least 12 monarch caterpillars (some of which have already transformed into beautiful butterflies), I’ve also found that gardening is good for my soul.

Being in nature has always given me a sense of peace and contentment, but I mostly equated this with hiking or just being immersed in the outdoors. However, while spending time beautifying my patio, I realized how good it feels to bring nature into my own space. Not just to bring it in, but also to actively care for it. It’s an amazing world of flowers, fresh air, greenery, and bugs. The caterpillars alone have been their own hypnotic reality tv show! And guess what – no screens needed (and I don’t miss them at all)!

If you haven’t gardened before, I highly recommend you try it. I think it always felt like this big commitment in the past – like I needed to spend hours in order to do it right. That’s not the case – you can start with just one plant and go from there. Maybe grow your favorite herb or help out the pollinators with a beautiful flowering plant in your yard. Start small and build from there. You may be surprised by the many benefits from such a small act – for you and for our planet.

Happy gardening!