What got you into horticulture?

By chance - really. I hardly ever used the garden. Then three months before I retired I heard that my next door neighbour was about to return from teaching overseas. I thought it was a good time to put up a fence between us to replace a very gappy hedge. If I put it up before he returned it would be a fait-a-complet, and we would have no arguement. But first I had to remove the old hedge and dig out the roots. Then I couldn't get access without dismantling a crumbling shed next to the border. Then the end of a concrete path got in the way, so I broke the end off. But it was a horrible path so I broke the lot up.



Then there was an area of crazy paving that was really uneven and full of weeds so that got lifted. I was enjoying myself now so I trashed the rest of the garden. Up to this stage I had no idea what I wanted to do. But there is nothing like burning your boats to concentrate the mind, and having retired by now I had the time. Even after I started rebuilding some hard landscaping I had no idea about plants or what I wanted. I started to lean about them over the winter and I am still on the learning curve.

 

What got me into it? Combination of factors.My grandfathers infectious love of it - it saved his life in Changi camp where his alloted job became growing the food to feed the other prisoners. A plot at school that I could do what I wanted with. A friend who 'predicted' I would become a gardener. But probably most importantly my unexpected inability to be fired from the job in early years.

I don't, mine's a mess but I have special bits that matter to me.

The difference between those who do and those who don't garden? My guess is the latter are more completely socialised so they don't need, seek, or learn to appreciate what plants offer.

 

where is the Changi camp?

 

It's in Singapore, it was where Prisoners of War endured horrible things. I was born in the Hospital at Changi, thankfully a long time after the War, though the spirits of the Prisoners still remain.
Don't really know how I got into gardening???? My Grandad always grew veg and dahlias and I used to enjoy helping him when I was little. Perhaps he got me started?????
Now I take the view that as we spend soooo much money on the inside of our houses, it makes sense to carry that on outside. I wouldn't want to live in a Palace in the middle of a tip!!
:rolleyes:
The garden is 'my' place, my sanctuary, and although I'm working hard it's where I rest.

 

Well said Windy :D :D

 

My grandfathers both kept vegetable gardens to feed their families. My father built a house in a field on a hillside and turned the 2 acres into a mixture of trees and shrubs, flower beds and a productive vegetable garden. I reckon with me itââ?¬â?¢s a sort of cultural /inherited thing ââ?¬â?? I just could not allow productive land to lie unused. Besides which when we were first married the veg we grew eeked out our rather lowly salaries. This became even more important when two young children arrived on the scene. The money saving aspect isnââ?¬â?¢t quite so important now and it has to a large extent been replaced by a desire to grow and eat as much of our own ââ?¬Ë?organicââ?¬â?¢ veg as possible.

I also hate being indoors and the garden gives me a good reason for getting outside. I enjoy the creative aspects of gardening too ââ?¬â?? planning, building and planting.

I wouldn't necessarily equate 'well-kept' with 'tidy. I've seen plenty well cared for, productive yet untidy gardens.

Pal I do sypathise regarding your neighbour. I managed to buy half the next door plot 20 years ago and just wish I'd bought the whole lot as the folk who have it now never touch it. It looks horrible and I get their weeds coming through

 

Must say, all very interesting! Nice subject, Dave W! You see a bit of something different in people through this window.

Windy, interesting you were born over there ... when did you go to the UK and have you every returned?

 

Had an interest in garden flowers when very young which shifted more to house plants and got a job in the biggest house plant nursery at the time (Rochfords) and have been growing house plants, exotics and bedding for nearly 40 years now.

 

My dad was a realy keen gardener - I hated it!! then I got my own house & my wife complained that she was getting her arms wet hangin the washing out - our lawn really did ned cutting so I thought about it & decided to do something about it. I now have a 160; long garden & an allotment !! and my dads passion for Chrysanths ( and fuchsias only a smaller scale)

I think the following foto's say it all really

 

In 73 we bought a house that we liked without giving much thought to the fact that it had 1/3 acre back garden which because it was new comprised of mainly buried biulders rubble. The day that we moved h.t.s.b.o. said "right befor we even think of new carpet we need to sort the lawn out otherwise it will be all mud". I never looked back and have been the 'gofor' ever since although to be fair since retiring I have time for the projects and have started to realy enjoy it. We do NOT mention this to h.t.s.b.o. its our secret!!!
ttfn

 

Got into gardening 10 yrs ago, when we bought a cottage with 1/5 acre. I maintained and improved a cottage garden. Then 6yrs ago, i left my office job to work with a garden designer, who was no better than a conman. I was on the front line with his customers. I left his services and started my own business (full time). I moved 3 yrs ago, have built up another gardening business,(part time) but i now have a home produced nursery, selling plants i propagate and produce i grow. My garden has to be tidy as customers like to see a mature specimen. I absolutely love gardening and when i discovered it, i threw myself into learning, experimenting and finally earning from it. I feel so lucky.

 

Good for you and the best of luck. Trust me. doing what you want to do beats money anyday (assuming you have enough).
ttfn

 

My grandad was a keen gardener and i remember helping, well more hindering him in the garden when i was a child, It must skip a genaration in my family as my dad hated gardening, cut the grass was about it. Have always wanted to have a decent size garden to grow veg and plants. Just bought a new property with the wife and it has a decent size south facing garden that is a blank canvas. I sooo look forward to planting it.