Gardening Can Be Fun?

WORKING IN A GARDEN is considered by a huge number of people to be nothing more than hard work - and therefore something to be avoided. However, by perhaps an equally large group, it is viewed as a whole lot of fun! Actually, at least for some individuals, gardening does qualify as recreation: "something interesting to do during leisure - just for the enjoyment of it;" or "the refreshment of body, mind, or spirit." Since gardening is work for some and recreation for others, what makes the difference? The basic answer is attitude and choice! Consider a couple of scenarios.

Fred Jenkins, the president of a company, is driving home in late afternoon from his office thinking about a wonderful evening. He pictures his wife greeting him at the door, changing into shorts and a t-shirt, then relaxing in his recliner with the evening paper. However, when he arrives home, his wife immediately says, "Fred, don't forget to chop down those weeds in the garden." So, Fred changes into his grubbiest jeans, grabs the hoe, goes to the garden and starts chopping down weeds as he grumbles underneath his breath. Sweat drops form on his brow and fall to the dirt below. In this case, gardening is nothing but work - and no fun at all.

In another scene, Fred is driving home in late afternoon from his office thinking about a wonderful evening. He pictures his wife greeting him at the door, changing into his old jeans, getting the necessary tools, and going to his vegetable garden to chop down some weeds. When he arrives home, his wife immediately says, "Fred, supper will not be ready for a while, so you have some time to relax and read the paper." But, Fred has other ideas. He changes into his garden clothes, grabs the hoe, goes to the garden and starts chopping down weeds as he whistles a happy tune. As he goes about his task, sweat drops form on his brow and fall to the dirt below. In this case, working in his garden is really not work at all, but is an enjoyable free-time activity.

For an activity to be truly recreative to an individual, it cannot be ordered, imposed, or forced; it must be voluntary. Therefore, a person may play a game, but not really enjoy it. A person may work in a garden, but it is real drudgery. Or, the exact opposite may be true in both these examples.

Whether it's working with vegetables or flowers, gardening is great fun to many people! For some, gardening is considered to be their favorite recreation activity. Others would have a strong difference of opinion. What matters is attitude and choice!