Women Who Garden: Part Two – Grounded in the Garden

In Part One of our Women Who Garden series, we met three women whose gardens became spaces of joy, peace, and personal growth.

In this second part, we continue celebrating Women’s Month by honouring three more women—each navigating life’s transitions in her own way, each finding a sense of grounding in the soil.

From childhood memories to late-life healing, the garden holds space for all of it. These stories remind us that every woman’s way of growing is valid—and that even the simplest flower can hold generations of meaning.

Margie: A New Beginning at 60 Something 

For over thirty years, Margie lived a high-speed life—balancing a demanding career with raising children and caring for aging parents. Gardening was always something she dreamed of, but there was simply no time. “The idea of gardening always appealed to me,” she says, “but life had other plans.”

At the end of 2023, years of high-functioning burnout and exhaustion finally caught up with her. By February of the following year, everything came to a halt. “I just imploded,” she shares.

Her medical team encouraged her to take up a hobby for her mental and emotional wellbeing—and so she turned to the garden.

Today, Margie is a beginner gardener—and loving it. “There’s so much to learn,” she says, “but for the first time, I actually have time to stop and smell the roses. To pick flowers for the house. To slow down.”

Her story is one of profound resilience—a reminder that it’s never too late to start something new, and that sometimes, the garden arrives just when we need it most.

Christine: Rooted Through Marigolds

Christine’s gardening journey began in childhood—not in one garden, but in many. Her father worked in construction, so the family frequently moved across continents, countries, and towns. “Often, we only stayed a few months in one place,” she recalls.

Yet, wherever they went, her mother made sure there was continuity. “She would go out and buy a packet of marigold seeds for me to plant in every new garden,” Christine shares. “She believed that growing something in the soil helped you make a connection with your surroundings.”

Marigolds, resilient and forgiving, were the perfect choice for a child gardener. “They’ll grow just about anywhere, anytime,” she says. “Even now, I think of those childhood gardens—where I’m sure a marigold or two still pop up every now and then, even sixty years later.”

Though Christine has grown into a more experienced gardener over the years, she always plants marigolds. “They keep me connected—to the soil, to the places I’ve been, and to the world of my childhood.”

Her story reminds us that sometimes the small things—like a bright orange flower—can hold the deepest roots.

Lynne: Filling the Gaps with Sunshine

Lynne’s gardening journey didn’t begin in a sweeping landscape—but in a simple, generous act from her mother-in-law.

“We had just bought our first house and, like many young couples, we were completely broke,” she laughs. “My mom-in-law brought us these yellow daisies to fill the gaps in our bare garden beds.”

To this day, Lynne isn’t quite sure what the flowers are called—despite now being a landscape designer. “They grow wild everywhere. Once you’ve got them, you’ve got them,” she says. “They look a bit like cosmos… but they’re not.”

Those significant yellow blooms sparked something in her. “They filled the garden with sunshine in spring,” she recalls. “From then on, I was at the nursery every chance I got—and spent a small fortune on plants.”

What followed was more than just a hobby. “Working in the garden and being exhausted at the end of the day brings such a deep sense of joy and accomplishment,” Lynne says. “When you see that first bud in late August, it’s like something that’s been asleep too long is finally waking up.”

For Lynne, the feeling gardening gives can’t quite be captured in a single word. “'Passion' feels overused,” she muses. “But it’s something close to that—a connection to the universe, and the gift of being part of creating something utterly spectacular.”

In Every Garden, A Different Story

From burnout to childhood memories to unexpected beginnings—each woman’s story reminds us that the garden grows with us. It welcomes us through life’s hardest seasons and celebrates our quietest triumphs.

This Women’s Month , we honour the resilience of women who plant, prune, and patiently tend—both their gardens and themselves.

We would love to hear your story:
How has gardening shaped your journey? Share your story with us on social media by tagging us or reply by emailing petalpixies@hadeco.co.za. Let’s continue to grow together.

Happy Women’s Month to our gardening community!