“The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.” ~ Hanna Rion, garden writer
Spending time in a garden is a satisfying experience, whether it is a public garden or your own space. It is refreshing to pause during the day and do nothing. I find that being outside in my garden, with no particular agenda or plan, is a way to use my time to find repose.
The noun “repose” comes from the Latin word repausare, meaning rest or quiet. We can put ourselves in a resting state of mind or body by lying down, sleeping or spending time in nature. For me, gardens are places of repose where I can fully relax.
Gardens give us a chance to use all our senses. We can slow down and put aside our necessary tasks for a while in order to experience the natural world in the fullest way possible. We touch soft petals, taste a fresh pea pod, listen to the wind, smell a rose or watch clouds moving overhead…