A Growing Pastime
Getting your hands in the dirt can really help you relax and connect with nature. Maybe this is why gardening is one of the fastest growing hobbies in America. The National Gardening Association claims 83% of all U.S. households participated in gardening activities in 2005.

As a stress reliever, the physical activity of gardening can help you work out tension from your day, as well as give you a way to escape your normal routine and feel the fresh air of the outdoors.

While you’re outside mowing, weeding, planting, watering and deadheading, you’ll surely be working up a sweat.The pulling, twisting, squatting and lifting can amount to a lot of calories burned (see Calorie sidebar). Not to mention, you’ll be staying healthy and increasing strength, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance.

Even better, all the hard work pays off. One of the most rewarding aspects for many amateur horticulturists is what pops up. Homemade flower arrangements look and smell fantastic.You can have a fresh new arrangement every week – without the cost of a florist. It’s satisfying to eat herbs or vegetables that you grew with your own hands. Just think how great it would be to top your signature marinara with basil and oregano pulled right from your backyard herb garden.

There’s a wealth of information available to help you grow as a gardener along with your garden. The National Gardening Association’s website (http://www.garden.org) has a wide variety of resources, and they can point you in the right direction to find gardening books and even gardening clubs. So get out and garden this spring, and here’s to your health!

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