In defence of gardening

I seemed to spend a lot of my Easter holidays outside in the garden. When I was little I adored gardening, but exams have got in the way over the last few years. So getting some time in the fresh air was a real treat.

I know gardening isn't exactly a typical part of the student lifestyle, but it's seriously underrated. We were clearing out all the dead stems which had been left over winter because ladybirds and other insects hibernate in them. After a morning of biochemistry revision an afternoon pruning was much needed stress release. It was also great exercise, as I found out when I couldn't move my shoulder the next day!

My cat enjoys helping with the gardening too!

Spring is one of my favourite times of year, and one of the reasons are the wildflowers which start to really come into their own. Everything goes from grey, brown and dull green to the bright colours of spring flowers and everything becomes a new, more vivid, green. Over the month of the Easter holidays our garden was full of sweet violets. They're tiny little flowers, but so beautiful and delicate.

Primroses are also one of my absolute favourites. We have the native yellow ones, as well as the brightly coloured cultivars. In fact, primroses are slowly colonising the lawn of our front garden. They're far more interesting than grass in my opinion! As I was photographing this one I saw a tiny insect on it. Insects really aren't something I know much about, so if anyone has any ideas what it could be I'd be very grateful.

This photo sums up what I love so much about gardening. You get to spend time outside and get exercise with something to show for your effort, and after a while you start to tune in to the natural world. You begin to see small things which you'd never normally notice, but which are incredible all the same. Our lives now are so busy and for the most part so detached from the world around us that just stopping to breathe. and look, and take everything in can be so valuable. 

When we take the time to look around, the smallest things can be the most beautiful.

So, that was my attempt to brainwashing you into thinking that gardening isn't just for people with far too much time on their hands.You might not agree, and I wouldn't blame you for it. But I enjoy it all the same.

Alexandra xx