The co-hosts for the February 6 posting of the IWSG are Raimey Gallant,Natalie Aguirre,CV Grehan, and Michelle Wallace!
Thanks for hosting, everyone.
The Question of the Month: Besides writing what other creative outlets do you have?
Does hiking or gardening count as creative? Well, maybe gardening. Here’s a pictorial answer to the question. A BEFORE and AFTER garden visit.
The first two pictures are my garden before I started. A house had occupied the space, but it had burned down several years before. I kept looking at this sunny spot until I couldn’t stand leaving it the way it was. About a year later, it had two ponds, flowers, and a vegetable patch. I guess the endeavor falls under creative. It also falls under the category called a-lot-of-work.
This month I’m featuring Michelle Wallace on my Email Connect. The lead article is How To Become An Overnight Success. And there’s a Valentine’s Day Treat. I’m warming to this way of connecting with followers.
Join the February WEP. The theme is 29 Days! It will be so interesting to read how many different takes writers will have on this one.
Quotes of the Month: “To be creative means to be in love with life.” ~ Osho. “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” – Albert Einstein. (I liked these both, so I couldn’t choose just one.)
Elizabeth Seckman says
I think gardening counts- especially a garden as well managed and planned as yours.
H.R. Sinclair says
That garden looks fantastic. That’s a big transformation. That IS very creative. 🙂
Ronel Janse van Vuuren says
Love the photos of your garden 🙂
Ronel visiting for Feb’s IWSG Day Being an Insecure Writer — And Happy About It
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks for the visit. Glad you enjoyed the pictures.
Gina Gao says
This looks amazing!
http://www.ficklemillennial.blogspot.com
Gina Gao says
Gardening is definitely a good passion to have. Thank you for sharing!
http://www.ficklemillennial.blogspot.com
C. Lee McKenzie says
Well, it keeps me busy, that’s for sure.
Mark Noce says
Heck yeah, gardening counts! I garden in the yard with my kids so much that we call it our little farm:)
C. Lee McKenzie says
I love to have kids with me in the garden. Best place to learn about life and good food.
Sherry Ellis says
Gardening is definitely a creative outlet. It’s a lot of work, though. But it can help get your mind off of other things.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It kind of clears all the mess that’s usually stirring around in my head.
J.H. Moncrieff says
That’s so impressive, Lee. Gardening is an immense amount of work. I love it too, until it gets near the end of the season and I’m so darn tired of weeding I pretty much give up.
While I have enough of a green thumb to make things grow (including weeds), I don’t have the gift of knowing how to turn my space into one of those Better Homes & Gardens extravaganzas. I’m thinking that’s probably a gift you’re either born with or not.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m usually weary of all the work by September, too. I guess that’s why we have those lovely seasonal changes, to give us a break from one routine and start fresh with another.
J.H. Moncrieff says
You wouldn’t call it lovely if you were in Winnipeg this winter. 😉
Rebecca Douglass says
Great work on the gardens! I think that working with your hands—including gardening, building things, even digging ditches—is a good way to get the brain working, and working in different and useful ways. I miss my garden. And it seems like it’s working to get your writing going, too!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I kind of like digging. It certainly is a workout and when I’m done I have something to show for it–nice dark earth ready for seeds.
Heather R. Holden says
Your garden is beautiful! Would definitely count that as a creative endeavor…
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Heather.
Lynda A Dietz says
A garden definitely counts for creativity! Certainly, a beautiful garden like the one you’ve created counts as double points.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I like the challenge each year. It’s never the same and always a surprise.
J Lenni Dorner says
Great gardening! It looks like a place of much joy and peace.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes. It’s quiet and if I do get to sit down and just look at it, I find a lot of peace.
Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine says
Gardening totally counts as creative in my book.
Botanist says
Transforming a corner into a garden like that definitely counts as creative expression in my books. Beautiful.
Jennifer Lee Hawes says
Hiking does count! It’s a great way to get your mind off your story, and then the plot gets figured out during your walks:)
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m still surprised at what happens when I take that hike, short or long, doesn’t seem to matter. New ideas and often some solutions to problems I couldn’t figure out.
Toi Thomas says
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I definitely think gardening can be creative. I’d like to have one someday, I just have to get over my allergies.
Nice quotes.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I hear you about allergies. The redwoods are my biggest challenge. They send out a yellow power in the spring that makes Sneezy the dwarf look healthy compared to me.
Lisa says
Wow is an understatement for the work you did! Definitely qualifies for creativity! Thank you for sharing those photos. I can’t wait till spring so I can do a little in the yard we have now. Renting keeps me from investing too much into the yard, but I still hope to leave it better than how I found it. Love the quotes!
C. Lee McKenzie says
That’s a wonderful way to think of a rental place. And you can enjoy it while you’re there.
Nas says
Your gardens are beautiful. I love the effort you put in it. And I loved all the photos!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Nas. Thanks. Hope all is well out in your part of the world.
Stephen Tremp says
Gardening seems to be a theme this month from bloggers across the country. I’ll have to round p the troops here and do something to grow veggies.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Those veggies are the best!
Jess@Fairday's Blog says
I love gardens and gardening. 🙂 Your garden looks amazing. Love seeing all the before and after pictures. What a beautiful area you have created.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Jess. It is often my sanctuary.
Tyrean says
Wow! Your garden is gorgeous! I would say that’s definitely creative and a lot of hard work!
Sandra S Cox says
I love your garden. What a wonderful way to create beauty and serenity.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It is a quiet spot, and the birds love the ponds so they entertain me a lot.
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor says
I used to love gardening. It was such a relaxing activity. Living on a boat means it’s not possible nowadays, but maybe some day I’ll be able to get back to it.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I can see why gardening isn’t in your life right now. I think your view is quite beautiful.
Raimey Gallant says
I’m stuck in Winnipeg this winter, and now I’m going to dream about your garden for the rest of it. It looks lovely, peaceful.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Lots of snow? I’ll bet. We had a smattering of it this year, and it was exciting, but nothing deep and long-lasting like where you are.
Gwen Gardner says
I would definitely count gardening as creative. I love your gardening pics. Thanks for the lovely quotes too!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Gwen,
Thanks. Sometimes quotes are exactly what I need to pick me up. Glad you liked these.
Jeff says
I love your garden and enjoy both gardening and walking… I have a plot in a community garden that’s locked up like Fort Knox to keep the deer and occassional feral pig out… Enjoying winter vegetables now—turnips, rutabagas, beets, cabbage, mustard greens and Swiss chard (and just dried my first turmeric that I dug up a week ago). It’s all good
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’d love to be a part of a communal garden–share the labor and the crops. That seems like a perfect relationship. Is it easy to grow tumeric? I was going to try some out this year. You have my mouth watering at those winter crops.
Jeff says
The community garden isn’t really communal as there are individual plots that everyone works. But there’s a lot of sharing of seeds and plants and common work on watering system and stuff. We also purchase together large loads of organic compost, which makes it cheaper and easier than hauling bags of the stuff. The covenants for the community I live in don’t allow gardens in one’s property, so this is a nice alternative (and with the fencing it means you’re not just feeding the deer).
Tumeric takes a long time (10 months) to grow–but other than good soil and a warm climate, it doesn’t require any additional attention.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I can see how this is a mutually helpful arrangement. I’m thinking that 10 months is a long time, but it still might be worth the effort. Thanks, Jeff.
Denise Covey says
“To be creative means to be in love with life.” ~ Osho. Love it. I must love life a lot. I find traveling creative — gives me new settings to explore and new people to find their way into my stories.
Love your gardening prowess. I love a beautiful garden but not so much the work involved.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Traveling definitely comes under the category creative. Nothing like it to open your mind and give you a different perspective.
Lynda R Young says
Gardening is definitely creative. Wow, I love the first harvest!! Impressive!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Some are better than others. That summer I couldn’t keep up with the produce.
Beverly Stowe McCclure says
That beautiful garden is definitely creative. Not everyone can grow delicious veggies and fruits. Trust me. I know. I’ve tried.
C. Lee McKenzie says
So true. Some years are good. Others, I ask myself why did I bother? Kind of like writing books.
Cathrina says
I love that quote by Albert Einstein. I putter in my garden and I believe it absolutely counts as creativity. Figuring out what to plant and where, to make it beautiful!!
C. Lee McKenzie says
And when I make a mistake, I consider how much I’ve learned. Gardens are great teachers.
Diane T. Wickles says
I consider gardens to be works of art. Thanks for sharing yours.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thank you for that, Diane. I love gardens and have come to appreciate the art in each of them, no matter how different.
Pat Hatt says
Sure counts indeed as your green thumb takes seed.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I knew I could count on a rhyme from the cat man! Thanks.
Yvonne V says
I love your garden!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks. It often is what keeps me sane.
Erika Beebe says
Gardening definitely counts. I wanted to be a landscape architect in college and it was the perfect mix of art and science. Beautiful work Lee. The quotes are great too 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
You’re so right about landscape architecture being a lovely mix of art and science. I’d love to take a class in that one day.
Olga Godim says
Gardening is the ultimate creativity, as your garden illustrates. Besides, all creative endeavors require lots of work. Gardening is not unique in that either.
Love the Einstein’s quote. So nice to feel myself in the ‘intelligence’ camp, assuming I’m creative. I think I’m. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Creativity is work, and I appreciate your creative contributions to WEP because I know you put a lot of time into the badges and the stories you write.
Nick Wilford says
You did a great job on your garden. I wouldn’t know where to start.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I treated the project like a WIP. I stared at it a long time before I picked up my shovel. 🙂
Susan Gourley says
That is definitely a creative talent to make something lovely and productive out of nothing. Love those quotes.
C. Lee McKenzie says
The best thing about this creation was I got no bad reviews. The plants rebelled once in a while, but outside of that, I got 100% approval. Now that made it all worthwhile.
CD Gallant-King says
Your garden is very impressive! And a welcome sight on this dreary winter day. For half a second I was wondering where you lived, that you had magical summer weather already! 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I should have noted that these are spring and summer pictures. It’s dormant right now, but I am getting some tulips and daffodils an paperwhites. It won’t be long and it will look pretty again.
Liz A. says
Yes, gardening is definitely creative. Hiking can be too. There’s a blogger who hikes Joshua Tree and photographs it. That’s what much of his blog posts are about. You should see the pictures…
C. Lee McKenzie says
I love people who do that kind of blog. Have you seen #OneHourWalk on facebook? I like that because it gives me ideas of other places to hike. I post there once in a while, too.
Liz A. says
I have not seen it. I don’t spend much time on Facebook.
Anyway, his blog is here: https://sparepartsandpics.blogspot.com/
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Liz. I’ll take a look.
Natalie Aguirre says
I love your garden. I still love gardening but not as much as when my husband was alive. But I have had a small veggie garden plot dug out a few years ago. I used to have a vegetable garden too and am enjoying a really small one that’s perfect for me.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m downsizing mine, too. Now that it’s just me, I can’t raise the vegetables the way I used to and eat them. I always gave some away, but this year I’d be giving most of them to neighbors and friends. Maybe more flowers.
Lee Lowery says
Gardening is definitely an art. I love looking at and walking through gardens, enjoying the visual beauty and knowing the love and care needed to create them. Your results are gorgeous.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I loved the title The Constant Gardener. That’s so what it takes, and I have to admit there are times I don’t want pull out that hoe.
Thanks for stopping in today.
Suzanne Furness says
It looks beautiful, well done on creating such a glorious space. I’m sure it gives you much pleasure.
Anna says
Well, you’ve proved gardening is very creative. And I wish I had your green thumb. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Melissa Maygrove says
What a gorgeous space! Lovely!
Elephants Child says
Gardens ARE a lot of work. In addition to money I pour blood, sweat and tears into mine. And it is all worth it despite, as you say, the work never being done.
Jacqui Murray says
What a gorgeous job on your garden! I hope someone helped. It looks like endless work. And I like Einstein’s quote. For a brainiac, he had a lot of creative comments.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I think Einstein was the most honest and modest genius in the world. He always said that people gave him far more credit than he deserved. I disagree with him, but what a wonderful thing to say.
Jemi Fraser says
I always have that 2nd Einstein quote up in my classroom – love it!!
Gardening is most definitely creative – and something I’m not very good at. Your pics are awesome!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I agree that his quote is inspiring. Glad you keep it up in your classroom.
Chrys Fey says
Hiking is a great form of exercise and can help with stress. Gardening is definitely a creative outlet…an art. 🙂
CV Grehan says
Your garden definitely falls into the category of ‘creative.’ My garden has deteriorated to such an extent that it’s now a wildlife preserve. I’m calling it good.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Add “Preserve” to anything and it’s good! Great idea.
Thanks for the visit and for co-hosting this month.
Christine Rains says
That is awesome! I can definitely see all the hard work put into it, but it was well worth it. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’ve enjoyed it a lot. I usually have one Tea Party each spring with friends. That motivates me to dig and plant again.
Loni Townsend says
That garden is definitely creative… and amazing! It looks like the perfect place to just sit and zen for a while.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Spring is the best time. I do get out in it a lot in April and May. By June I might have some time for meditative moments, but I’m so easily distracted by a weed here and a needy plant there.
Carol Kilgore says
Omigosh! Your garden is absolutely lovely. I would love walking there every day. And sitting there reading a book. I might never go inside, LOL 🙂
I also love your quotes, especially the Osho one. I’d never heard it before.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Come by. Bring a good book. I plan to put up a new hammock this summer. You’ll love it.
Carrie-Anne says
I enjoy looking at gardens, but don’t know if I’d have the patience or interest to cultivate my own large garden. I might be able to do a rock garden, though.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Enjoying one is half the equation, and I love it when people visit mine.
Tamara Ann Narayan says
Gardening is a lot of hard work. I put in a fairy/rock garden by my house last summer and it got me into shape! Then the chipmunks invaded and ruined a lot of it. Grrr.
C. Lee McKenzie says
There are always the critters that work against you. I’m waiting for the gophers and ground squirrels to attack. They’re as regular as spring.
Thomas Anderson says
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
There’s no doubt about it. You created a beautiful garden spot from a vacant space. From the ashes of a burned down home rose an arbor, ponds, lush greenery and an abundant harvest. I applaud you, dear friend!
Like you I appreciate both quotes of the month. When you are in “up time,” fully engaged in life, you are at your creative best.
It’s great to see you again, dear friend C-Lee. Enjoy the rest of your week and short month!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Shady,
Thanks. The garden is something very tangible that I love to sweat over, and then walk through. As a creative endeavor, it’s so much different than writing.
See you at your place soon.
L. Diane Wolfe says
I love what you did with the garden. I should post transformation photos of our back yard. It was so plain and blah three years ago. I envy your pond. We’d like one, but I’d want resident frogs to eat the massive mosquitoes we get here.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You should. I think turning blah into beautiful is always exciting. Get some mosquito fish and you won’t have any mosquitoes in that pond.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Bet that took a lot of work, but well worth the effort.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Come spring I start the work again. Never ends.