Inspiration
Deep Breath Healing Gardens started with 2 separate incidents merging at just the right time.
The first was me turning my garden greenhouse into my own She Shed! I found starting plants from seed too tedious for my taste! I removed all my potting racks, bags of soil and 1/2 used seed packets and brought in all my favorite things. Comfortable and colorful garden lounge chair, watercolor painting from my daughter, interesting plant containers, my dad’s copper magnifying glass, pretty tropical plants, etc. I made a promise to only bring in things I loved. All Me.
Shortly after I finished my She Shed we had news that our dear friend in Germany received a cancer diagnosis. As many people know this is a devastating feeling for the actual person to receive and for friends and family such a feeling of Helplessness. It was the combination of wishing there was something I could do while at the same time sitting in my new space surrounded by beauty and nature that the idea of creating an area on my friend’s balcony for her to relax after her Chemo sessions seemed so obvious. I immediately enlisted the help of her husband and 2 teenage daughters to accept secret deliveries of lounge chair, outdoor rug, side table and twinkly lights. The day Dorothy was at her first session the girls got to work setting up the deck for their mom. They added a mug for tea, a blanket for warmth and colorful plants for cheer. When Dorothy arrived home, they took her out to the balcony. She now calls this her Good Spot.
Wow. Being able to give someone in this situation the smallest ray of sunshine (literally) was so satisfying. With each garden I build the feedback from the recipients is so helpful and heartfelt. I feel a bit selfish because I get so much praise for doing these gardens but honestly, I am addicted to creating them. I have learned how to listen between the words when asking about colors and favorite scents, noticing what elements of nature come up during the conversation, challenging myself to make their garden so personalized that they have their very own She Shed.