Gardening season is just around the corner (and frankly, for some of us, it can’t come soon enough). So, to kick things off, we thought we’d take a bit of a tongue in cheek peek at the different types of gardening styles you might find amongst your friends and family. You may even recognize yourself in one of these gardening personality types, whether you’re a Passionate Gardener, a Farmers’ Market Fanatic, or anything in between.
The Passionate Gardener
Gardening is more than just a hobby, it’s your passion. You love nothing better than to be outside, with your hands in the dirt, in your favourite pair of wellies, and the buzz of bees serenading you while you work.
There’s a good chance that you’ve given names to your perennials, and have been known to talk to them on occasion. You may or may not have monogrammed gardening gloves, and perhaps some gardening themed décor in your house. For you, seed catalog month is the most wonderful time of the year.
The Gourmet Gardener
As a Gourmet Gardener you are more about providing food for the table than passing the time. Not only do you enjoy planting for seasonal, fresh fare, but you also plan for preserving and canning as well. Your tomato sauce is legendary, your peach preserves are the best in town, and not only do you know what day August 8th is, you consider it to be a genuine holiday.
The Landscaper
You consider gardening to be less of a hobby than it is an integral part of home maintenance. The Landscaper enjoys well-maintained shrubbery, handsome trees, and perhaps some showy annuals during the warmer months. Your lawn is the envy of all of your neighbours. You are more interested in the results of gardening than the process.
The Seasonal Traditionalist
For you, gardening is a tradition. When the weather warms up, your thoughts turn to ripe tomatoes and beautiful daylilies. However, unlike the Passionate gardener, you wouldn’t consider it part of your overall lifestyle. You consider it to be a seasonal thing, like bringing out the patio furniture and uncovering the grill. Yet, unlike the landscaper, you enjoy the process just as much as the result.
The Dabbler
You like the idea of gardening, but have only attempted it one or twice, or may have never tried it before. It sounds great in theory, but you aren’t sure just how committed you are to months of weeding, watering and harvesting. Trying your hand at container gardening may be your best option.
The Farmers’ Market Fanatic
Really, you would be into gardening if there were a little less dirt and sweat involved. In fact, you were probably a Dabbler at one time. What you learned from that experience is that while fresh veggies, seasonal fruit, and flowers are fabulous, all of the toil that goes into producing them is not for you. Support your local Farmers’ Market, and celebrate the folks who love it.
No matter what type of gardener you might happen to be, you’re likely overjoyed to realize that spring is here. Take advantage of the good weather, get outside and dig in the dirt, if that’s your fancy. Whether you prefer traditional rows, raised garden beds, container, vertical, or any other gardening method, we wish you a happy gardening season and bountiful harvests!
