Laura's Story: How Gardening Has Grounded Me
Laura Chomentowski is a Breastcancer.org community member in Connecticut, USA, living with metastatic breast cancer.
It’s springtime in Connecticut. The moment has arrived to open my screened in porch that overlooks my perennial garden. I’ve been anticipating this moment for months. My porch and garden are a slice of peace, joy, nature and creativity.
I designed my garden from scratch and enjoy all that is involved in tending and growing it. The art of choosing the shape, size, color and placement of the plants. Digging, weeding, watering, pruning. Visiting nurseries and public gardens for inspiration. Observing the flowers in my neighborhood on my walks.
I had a “shabby chic” (falling down) white picket fence that I finally replaced with a golden cedar fence. This is my first spring with the new backdrop, and I went wild at my favorite nursery and bought climbing roses and a trellis to creep up and adorn my new fence.
The bending, twisting, squatting make me feel like I’m getting in a full yoga class. Right now, the scent of the lilacs and lilly of the valley, my bare toes in the grass, chatter of the birds, and breeze on my skin activate all of my senses and bring me into the moment. My garden brings me joy, beauty, a sense of aliveness and peace.
Join the discussion in our Breastcancer.org community thread Gardening, anyone?