We may long for something which will allow us escape from the treadmill, if only for brief periods, to recharge our batteries, to replenish our souls.

Gardening is just such an activity.

Gardening teaches patience. You may need to stand back and watch the small specimens you plant develop in themselves and in relationship to each other. It can be a calming and meditative activity. Watching the cycle of life gives you the opportunity to slow you down. It can also be exciting as you discover the hidden secrets of your garden. Gardens change throughout the year, so every day can present you with a new picture.

Gardening can be a solo activity, but it can also be a shared one. I often talk about spending time in the garden with children. The days I spend in the garden with my children are usually followed by the most co-operative evenings and the best conversation over dinner. Couples who garden together can have common goals. Friends who gather together for garden working bees benefit socially as well as learning from each other.

Gardening stimulates the mind. It requires a well rounded, though not too studious understanding of many disciplines. Chemical and biological sciences are two important aspects of gardening. Art and design come into layout as does construction skills. All of these can be learned on the job, but you may find yourself keen to learn more and spend you evenings curled up with a gardening book.

Gardening benefits the body in many ways. Research often suggests that active gardeners live longer. For example, mowing a small lawn may be the equivalent of a half kilometre walk and many of the larger lawns in our area could find us trekking five or six kilometres behind the mower.

Gardening can also be very satisfying. The pleasure of approaching your home and seeing your garden, the reflection of your self expression makes you feel welcome. You know you are home. At the end of your work, you can put your feet up with a book (gardening of course), a drink or more good conversation in the glorious environment you have helped to create.

You are never too old to discover the joys of gardening. I have often been asked to create a garden for clients who claim not to be gardeners. The garden “needs to be low maintenance”, I was told. Before too long I have found the same people out there weeding, clipping and generally enjoying a new found passion.

And for those with concerns for the natural environment, gardening can help to offset your carbon footprint. Productive gardens can reduce reliance on transport fuels and gardens with larger shrubs and trees are cooler in summer.

Of all the things you can do to try to impact on the future, to leave your mark, nothing could be more significant than planting a tree. That simple act of planting a seed or seedling that could, if given the chance, outlive generations of humans; provide home and a food source for countless other creatures. It can lock carbon out of the atmosphere while improving the soil quality.

So if you are looking for a way to slow down and smell the roses, give gardening a go.