On my family’s small half-acre of land, my garden has always been the best place for me to feel relaxed. When I was in second grade, COVID-19 hit the Adirondacks, and, in true Adirondack style, we were sent home with pine tree saplings. When I first thought of growing a tree, little me thought it would be as tall as our house in less than a week. Little me was in for a surprise.

Years later, despite the dangers of being a tree sapling — namely hungry deer and winter frosts — it survived! This summer, I started expanding the variety of undergrowth plants. During the warmer months, I come to our backyard, water plants and adjust sticks holding up sickly plants. It’s a relaxing way to end a stressful day, and I think everyone should have a natural way to wind down. Some days, we just need a way to escape for a while, and gardening is a lovely way to do that.

When the ever-present reality of life gets you down, plants are a safe haven and a quiet place. Having a place where you can sit down and feel real, grassy soil is very relaxing, and breathing in the quiet air is healthy, both for your lungs and for your mind. Another reason is climate change and global warming. A lot of us feel like we’re not doing anything. Use vegetation! Plants help reduce Co2, provide a source of energy, fight urban sprawl a little, and can give you a break from stress.

A garden can also be a nice thing to show off! Many of my friends comment on how great my garden seems, which brings a nice feeling and a sense of pride. Gardening can be tricky, but there are a couple ways of noticing before it gets out of hand. Try a tree! They take less time and energy, but still have the benefits of any other plant. Taking care of a lot of plants is hard work and can consume a lot of time. You will want at least a little experience before delving into the needs of pIants. I’ve gained experience from my parents, books and the ever-handy Google.

I had a lot of worries when I was new to gardening, like: Are these plants going to die immediately? Will they freeze? And, of course, will animals like deer nibble at them? These are all questions that I still ask myself. Most plants don’t freeze due to natural dormancy … but you can always count on deer to sneak in a few taste-tests now and then.

Most of the time, owning a plant is better than not owning a plant. And although many people in the Adirondacks already have plants, if you are one of many who can’t grow a whole garden due to space or time, you can try a potted plant. Sometimes, adding a garden or plants on top of everyday life can be challenging — especially if you have pets. Many cats and dogs have tendencies to purposefully and accidentally knock things over — so I do not recommend a ceramic pot, there is always the possibility of a giant mess. I use an old Tupperware container with little bits of moss and a small fern, which can be better because you can keep it inside and it requires less attention; just water it two to three times a week.

And if you do consider taking care of some sort of greenery outdoors, from a tree sapling like mine to a vibrant flower, stick to hardy plants native to the Adirondacks!

Good luck!

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Rhea Mackey is a writer and gardener, a 7th grader at Keene Central School. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading or ice-skating. She also loves to bake and learn about Scotland