Gardening from the inside out

Andover Township — According to Lois J. de Vries, who runs Cultivating the Inner Gardener, 90 percent of today’s gardening advice leaves the most crucial component of any garden out of the picture — the gardener. According to de Vries, Cultivating the Inner Gardener is designed to bring more meaning to the experience of gardening by putting gardeners in a mental space that allows them to rediscover and focus on the things that really matter to them, restore meaning to their gardening efforts and revitalize a cherished pastime. “You could fashion the most perfectly designed, luxuriant, flower-filled space that addresses practical questions such as where to put the barbecue or the patio, but if that garden doesn’t resonate with the personal values, meanings, and memories of its owner, it’s not producing the kind of satisfaction that’s possible by gardening from the inside out,” de Vries said. Calling herself a gardener coach rather than a garden coach, de Vries helps people create personal outdoor settings that are beautiful, healthy, and a sanctuary from the world that speaks to the soul, not just another pretty space. Some common problems Cultivating the Inner Gardener coaching tackles are: Maintaining a garden that conflicts with the gardener’s values Going through the motions of gardening without getting much enjoyment Uncertainty about where or how to invest time, energy, or money Doing all of the right things, but still not producing a garden that reflects the owner’s personality For more information visit http://cultivatingtheinnergardener.blogspot.com or email de Vries at loisj7@gmail.com.