Gardening, though not traditionally thought of as an art form, is an intrinsically creative hobby which takes an eye for aesthetics, skillful planning, commitment, and a connection to nature. Personally, I spend as much time in my garden as I do in my pottery studio, and digging in the earth, soaking up the sunshine, and embracing the rhythm of the seasons is especially complimentary to the earth-centric art form of ceramics. Even though I happen to be a potter, I believe gardening compliments any artistic or creative medium. So whether you only have room for a few herbs and flowers or you have acres of land to steward, let’s dive into how it can enhance your creative life to grow a garden at any scale. 

In general, we can augment our primary artistic focus by introducing another creative outlet that we take less seriously. This works well in the garden because if you aren’t claiming to be a great gardener, then you can just play in your garden without any pressure to make something perfect or visionary. This reminds us to loosen up and just enjoy being creative for creativity's sake. Having an uninhibited form of artistry will get your creative juices flowing and can also deepen your creative confidence when you see how lovely your garden is without “even trying”! I relish time for free garden play when I can experiment, tap into my left-brain, and cultivate something beautiful.

On top of allowing us to create freely, the garden connects us to a larger creative force in the universe. In my experience, gardening is one of the most direct ways to get in touch with the source of all creation by co-creating with the universe, or nature, or intelligent design. Whatever you prefer to call the force that makes a flower bloom and a bee buzz is the force that gardeners get to align with when tending to precious seedlings or turning the compost pile. When joining with this creative force, we are reminded that beauty unfurls with just a nudge. In the same way it takes just a bit of water to germinate a seed, it takes just a bit of quiet time to nurture your next great artistic idea. This powerful connection to the source of creation develops an open channel to receive ideas.

One of the most common sources of inspiration that artists cite is nature, so bringing natural beauty into your space is a clear benefit to gardening. Whether you grow a food garden or a decorative garden, it will be ripe with smells, sounds, forms, and colors that will generate ideas and breathe life into your creative practice. By observing how effortlessly a sunflower turns its head to find the light, or a hummingbird hovers frozen in front of a flower, you get a glimpse into just how much magnificence there is to be found around us. In the garden, we are surrounded by natural transformation which can re-energize our artistic practice and fertilize new ideas. So at the risk of stating the obvious, grow a garden to bring beauty and inspiration into your home!

Beyond the aesthetic value of the garden, the fruits of your labor will encourage branching out into other related creative paths. Growing flowers leads to flower arranging, ripening tomatoes provide an opportunity to brave a new recipe, and cultivating an abundance of cucumbers may land you in a pickling workshop. The garden teems with life and opportunities to jump head first into projects and seize creative impulse. Tour creativity will not stop with planting a few seeds, and you will likely be surprised by all the ways your garden feeds your creative side.

I could go on and on about the ways in which fresh air, flowers, and food I grow enliven my spirit, motivate me to create, and connect me with something greater than myself. I encourage you to try it for yourself and see all the ways you are impacted by nurturing a few plants. No matter the size of the garden, the ripple effects of its cultivation will stretch deep into your artistic practice.