@Obelixx you are absolutely correct about the hip, and I'm on the waiting list. I won't have the knees done if I can possibly avoid it as I know too many people who have had terrible experiences with knee replacement. I do have a good hoe, but that's not much help when it comes to cutting back perennials or removal of weeds which have managed to intertwine with plants I want to keep. I hope I will have more mobility after the hip is done, but it really is depressing at the moment.
This year I had to come to terms with the fact I could no longer manage my garden myself due to health problems. I put a request onto my local village facebook page asking for a jobbing gardener to do a couple of hours every fortnight. My garden is perennials and shrubs and a small pond. I didn't plant up any tubs this year - not only because I was not capable to do them but could not do the regular watering they would need. I already had someone to cut the grass every fortnight and someone to cut the hedges every year. I had a call from a 14 year old schoolboy (actually his mum) and they both came round to see me. Match made in heaven - he is keen, intelligent, polite and strong (and chatty). It has worked out perfectly so far. I made a list of jobs at the start (showed them to his mum as well) and he has been working through them. I supervise, advise etc as necessary. His mum is a keen gardener and I said she could help herself to seedlings, cuttings etc. It's a two way street. I enjoy the company and the fact that my garden is slowly coming back to being under control. The young lad enjoys his paycheck. Win win. May be worthwhile to do something similar.
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
I found a good match with a hort sudent in the next street, just under half my age. She gets splits and an extra plants she wants. I get help with moving compost and large pots now and again. She has a car and can take stuff to the dump for me - which makes her a solid gold angel in my book. It's worth hunting for the right match.
I do sympathise. There's a similar post from someone who has a garden too big for them to manage and there were great suggestions. I think it's like many other things in life, when it overwhelms and you can't manage anymore, the joy goes. As I started late to gardening and the size and scope I have now is about the max I can manage on my own. I always have to think about the long term use and maintenance. Eventually even my house will be too much for me so I have to think about that too. But I've always said, I can leave my house but not my garden!
My OH and l have started reducing the size of my biggest flowerbed which got absolutely baked in the 2 heatwaves that we had. Although l'm not quite as old as some of the other posters, l am aware that my days of gardening from dawn until dusk have passed.
It grieves me in some ways, but my practical head says it's the sensible thing to do. I still have 2 other flower beds that are remaining (at the moment).
I have always said to my OH that l want raised beds when l don't have the means to get down and dirty any more. Wide edges so that l can perch on them to work, and wheelchair friendly if that time should come. None of us know what the future holds and it's depressing to think about, but l hope that some of the answers here have given @whiteheadmg some ideas that help.
I've suggested to some of my customers that have larger gardens but limited mobility that a good low effort solution is going with self seeding annuals. I know my good old snap dragons have been a saving grace this summer! Things that reproduce well like scabious are a good option too.... Divide up well so we don't have to be too precious over them! The bees are still more than happy and they put on quite a cheering show!
I like him a lot. He was floating an idea to explore. His point is that a lot of younger gardeners are not coming into the industry or joining local gardening clubs - things have changed.
You're a bit behind @Chris-P-Bacon ... that was posted on the Curmudgeon thread two days ago ... and have you actually read the whole article ? ... right to the last paragraph, where James Wong says.
"...My question to plant lovers is: do we need to ditch the term “gardening” to reach new people? Or do we need to reclaim the word by demonstrating it to be more inclusive? I am tempted to say the former, but rather hoping for the latter*..."
*my italics.
Hardly a crusade against the word 'gardening' ........ more of a weary diatribe against the other terms being used ... read it again.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
May be worthwhile to do something similar.
It grieves me in some ways, but my practical head says it's the sensible thing to do. I still have 2 other flower beds that are remaining (at the moment).
I have always said to my OH that l want raised beds when l don't have the means to get down and dirty any more. Wide edges so that l can perch on them to work, and wheelchair friendly if that time should come. None of us know what the future holds and it's depressing to think about, but l hope that some of the answers here have given @whiteheadmg some ideas that help.
James Wong & his latest crusade...what a clown!
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/28/james-wong-on-gardening-is-it-time-we-ditched-the-word-gardening-
I like him a lot. He was floating an idea to explore. His point is that a lot of younger gardeners are not coming into the industry or joining local gardening clubs - things have changed.
"...My question to plant lovers is: do we need to ditch the term “gardening” to reach new people? Or do we need to reclaim the word by demonstrating it to be more inclusive? I am tempted to say the former, but rather hoping for the latter*..."
*my italics.
Hardly a crusade against the word 'gardening' ........ more of a weary diatribe against the other terms being used ... read it again.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.