Reasons to celebrate Garden Day
Garden Day is more than about plantations and gardening, so with this year’s celebration, we look into more reasons to celebrate this day.
ON this year’s Garden Day, we are pleasantly reminded of the positive mental effects of owning a pet or plant. Created by a group of garden enthusiasts, Garden Day is celebrated on October 9 to encourage people across South Africa to connect by celebrating their green spaces.
“No matter how big or small your space, embrace the endlessly therapeutic effects of these leafy respites.”
The pets and plants organisation reported that research shows that caring for both pets and plants has the power to uplift your mental and emotional health. One of the movement’s founding gardeners Gundula Deutschlander said, “Pets and plants can elevate a person’s mood by decreasing cortisol levels, serving as a source of comfort and increasing feelings of support.”
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The mom of four-legged companions continued to say that both pets and plants offer their caretakers a sense of purpose. “Knowing your cat or dog is waiting for you to feed them and give them care and affection, gives you a daily reason to rise and shine every morning. As for plants, watering them regularly and tending to their soil offers a similar sense of caregiving. Guarding your garden against pests and winterising your roses can make you feel essential to their protection,” said Deutschlander.
She explained that the research and literature state that by providing you with an added sense of meaning, pets and plants can keep you from feeling listless, increase your energy levels, and boost your overall productivity.
The celebration of Garden Day is not only about plants and dogs; the organisation said they have been inundated with pictures from people around South Africa sharing images of all their pets – including cats, sheep, horses and even rabbits.
The public is invited to join in the celebration of Garden Day tomorrow by making themselves and their pets a fresh, homemade flower collar. “They’re easy to create, beautiful to behold, and can be made to match your own flower crown, ensuring your four-legged friends are part of your Garden Day celebrations.”
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Here are some easy-to-follow tips on how to create a corsage or collar – or you can adapt it as a crown – for our furry-legged friends:
- Distract your paw pal with a snack while you measure their neck with flower wire. At least two fingers should be able to fit underneath. You don’t want it too tight.
- Gather your garden scissors, flower wire, tape, pet-friendly blooms, or herbs.
- Fold the wire in a circle-like shape and build the base with greenery.
- Tape or wire your colourful blooms to the base of the crown.
- Put on their collars, use another treat to encourage them, strike a pose and remember to share your pet selfies with us by tagging us or using our hashtag #GardenDaySA #TuinDagSA.
