Hello all,

I had heard that gardening was a good exercise, but I have never been horticulturally inclined, but my mother loves her flower beds and has been wanting to weed and plant. It is has been much too hot, but last night was comfortable enough that I decided to help her weed...I mean how hard could it be? My tiny 82 year old mother with moderate cognitive impairment worked me into the ground. After an hour, I was sure I was going to die; after 2 hours, I was sweating so hard, it was raining inside my glasses.

This morning, all of my muscles from the neck down are threatening to file a class action lawsuit against my brain for reckless endangerment LOL. We finished two beds and have one more to do tonight. Wish me luck.

Seriously, gardening is very good exercise, provided you are paired with someone of the same physical fitness. I am so grateful she is still able to do this, even if I hope never to do it again once we finish, although I am fairly sure that one and done is not the nature of weeds.

Robbie

What a great story. I laughed all the way through it. Good luck this evening!

Start with a few potted plants - get the right kind for how often you want to Water, and the shade they will have, and I suggest asking someone to make you a potting table - your first, best friend in gardening - its a table with a hole in it - you get used to the finesse of potting and get a "feel" for it before you strain - I know many a row of plant killed because of the "get it done" soil press, (a.k.a. planter's folley) lol. the hole is used w/a bucket underneath and all your excess goes in there - easy-breazy clean up.

Even if you don't burn calories, a hobby is an excellent thing to have - it can keep you busy, establish new or reestablish old, good habits, and keep the head hunger at bay.

Good luck!

Gardening is my favorite exercise! It really does give your body a good workout. I live in the Pacific Northwest so the weather (even when it is raining) is almost always perfect for gardening of some type.

Follow up- I escaped on Wednesday; Mom volunteers with the food bank at her church the last Wednesday of the month; my teenage nephew goes with her.

Pookey, thank you for your guide to beginning gardening, but when I said I wasn't horticulturally inclined, I meant that I am the Dr. Doom of the plant kingdom. I figured weeding was something I would do well. I have killed jade plants, philodendron and even bamboo. LOL

I do need a hobby that doesn't involve sitting on my backside. I love to read, but also tend to snack when reading or in front of the TV. I am considering martial arts and painting.

It has been so hot the last couple of days, we haven't finished the last flower bed yet, but tomorrow we are going to get McDonald's pancakes (Mom's favorite food) and then attack the weeds again before 9 AM. Did I mention that I am not a morning person. It is worth it to see Mom happy. Even if she mentions that "When your father and I bought this house, it was 4 rooms and a path." I cannot imagine my mother using an outhouse. So tomorrow it is back to the hoe. Aargh.