It’s been a little while since I put some time aside to write specifically for my blog but I have, just like those little buzzy things in the garden, been a very busy bee of late. Today though, for the summer solstice, I’d planned to spend a much calmer day, mostly by myself doing whatever felt right – even if that ended up being nothing at all.

Heading into 2023, I somehow knew it would be a challenging year as I continued to establish in a working role that for me, was very different to anything I’d done previously – in some respects it felt as though I’d started a second career. As the year would progress, I knew I’d need to find time that I could call my own where I could think, read, write or do whatever – you’ve probably worked out that it turned into a writing kind of day!

Defining my own style hasn’t been an easy process I have to say, and I’m sure many would quickly say I’ve some way yet to go. But if you’ll allow me a little self criticism, I’m first to admit that frustratingly, I often get bogged down in detail, and all too often

disappear down rabbit holes checking facts or exploring linked research – so fascinating is the gardening world I like to write about.

You see, in the past months, whilst I’ve not posted as often to my Gardening Ways blog, I have actually increased the quantity of my writing. Admittedly, very little of this has been visible to the wider world but it has been serving a bigger purpose, as I’ve been able to spend quality time developing my writing and learning about inspiration.

Traditionally, I set off all inspired on one horticultural or nature topic or another, then tie myself in editorial knots as I balance precariously between what I hoped would be an ‘arty’ piece of writing, and a well-ordered article that is straight down the line. It’s just the way I think and process things, and not a problem if it can be channelled correctly.

What I’ve discovered recently though, after ten years plus writing for my blogs, is that techniques do exist which help to release those ties which have held back my garden writing. These tricks, which admittedly I still need to embed, are slowly helping me to structure my writing activity and inspire the type of work I want to produce. Indeed, do put your hand up if you’ve picked up a slight shift in my style of late – okay, so I see no hands up, but I’ll carry on anyway!

Putting writing aside, the other of my aims for the year was to spend more time on self care, which has fallen into a lull for too long. Numerous factors have triggered this, but a key one has been the wholesale change from physical gardening at the beginning of 2022, when I put my working tools to one side and exchanged them physically, if not mentally for a laptop.

By the turn of 2023 and almost a year into the new role, I’d come to understand that my change in work style had actually triggered a change in life style too – one with markedly less physical activity. I will swiftly add however, that my change in role has opened my eyes considerably to a world of horticulture that I thought I knew well, and the change has been a hugely positive one.

The new work has been a challenge though, I’m not going to lie, often meaning that either my head or eyes or both have had enough by the end of the working day, so much so that opening my writing book has become increasingly harder – so I’m thanking myself for putting this day in the diary!

Today then, my self care day, could have been used in a number of ways, maybe gardening, garden visiting, reading or going for a walk etc. In actual fact, it’s turned into a great day spent ambling about and mostly, I’m glad to say, writing. (So let’s hope it all hangs together as a post for my blog!)

Naturally, I woke this morning feeling tired, and really felt the urge to kick this day-off into touch, mulling over whether to cancel it and work it anyway (for there’s more than a few tasks waiting for me in the background). I knew however, way back in those darker days of winter that I’d likely feel this way if the day didn’t have a focus, or purpose, which is why I specifically chose the summer solstice – because it was a date that couldn’t be moved.

Having the longest daylight hours of the year, this day for me has always represented the peak in a long gardening year that can feature so many twists, turns and challenges. I’ve never really hung on to the spiritual meaning of the day, but the practical fact that all days from here through to December will reduce in length – this somehow is a positive for me. Maybe it’s the fact that many plants will be in and growing, grass growth may have eased, or even it’s the thought of shorter days and longer nights.

To have this day, a symbolic day, and to immerse myself in writing has been a breath of fresh air. It’s been a real day with responsibilities, yes, but it’s given some much needed breathing space and allowed me to ‘pause’ not only work, but other tasks, even gardening tasks that call for me constantly.

Knowing that I mentally rate all days for their productivity and for what has been achieved, today has been a good one. In my own much needed return to Gardening Ways, I’ve been able to flex my creativity through words – words which I hope will remind me to remember to take a day out now and then, and you that I’m very much present and correct.

I’ll leave it there for now, as I have saved a little gardening for the cooler hours, but thank you for reading, do keep in touch, and do remember to make some time for your self care too.

All the very best, Gary

Gary Webb, Gardening Ways