Becky,
You know last year I started buying the African Violets off of eBay as if I could not stop. Then I wondered what in the world had come over me. I rationalized that I would start a small business and sell them on eBay. Because of age and my mental fogs, I accidentally did not put the markers back in the correct pots. Others were marked with freezer tape but because of the humidity in the little tents I am using, the tape fell off. So I guess I am supposed to garden.
I have found the houseplants and AVs very soothing and healing.
Yes when I (we) gardened we did do it for wildlife. We had a small pond with a waterfall. We had bird feeders, bird baths and flowers for birds and insect pollinators. Of course the squirrels took a big share.
We even had a raccoon and skunks who visited despite being in the middle of the city.
We put goldfish and tadpoles in the pond. We ended up with a very noisy bullfrog who made us laugh. My neighbor saw him leave one year, probably going to the canal or maybe a lake that is within walking distance. We had a quiet frog too that we saw off and on. For awhile we did not see her and had assumed that she left too. When we took the pond out, we found her under the waterfall. We took her to a nearby lake. Her species is native here. The goldfish came into the aquarium in the house.
So Becky I agree with you, gardening is therapy, as are my pets!
