Let’s be honest—when you start a garden, you think you know what to expect. You plant basil, you water the soil, you wait for the pesto. But then… something else begins to grow. Something you didn’t expect.
Maybe it’s confidence.
Maybe it’s clarity.
Maybe it’s the quiet thrill of watching something thrive because you cared for it.
“Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there.”
— Thomas Fuller
This quote resonates with me. Not just because it’s poetic (though it is), but because it’s true—again and again, for gardeners and for people simply trying to grow something meaningful in their lives.
What the Garden Teaches Us (That We Never Expected)
When we launched Gardenuity, we set out to make gardening excessible to everyone, to help people grow vegetables, herbs, and leafy greens right from their patios and beautiful tropical gardens on their desktops. But over time, we discovered something powerful: people weren’t just harvesting plants.
They were growing:
- Gratitude
- Mindfulness
- Resilience
- Wellness
- A reconnection—with nature, their breath, their families, their teams, and themselves
A Personal Moment: The Tomato That Taught Me Patience
Years ago, I planted a cherry tomato in my Gardenuity garden. I was eager—maybe too eager—and checked it every morning. For weeks, nothing. Then one morning, I spotted a single pop of red. A tomato, finally.
Now, here’s the truth: I don’t even like tomatoes. Unless they’re in ketchup or salsa, they’re not for me. But my daughter Jillian and my husband Scott love them. They eat them right off the vine.
What surprised me most wasn’t all the tomatoes that seemed to appear overnight—it was the overwhelming joy I felt. That tomato reminded me that caring counts and good things are worth waiting for. It was a bold reminder that I could grow—even when life feels chaotic.
It wasn’t just about the harvest. It was about faith—in nature, in myself, and in the quiet work that happens beneath the surface.
One of my favorite books, that deems rereading every year is The Secret Garden.
In The Secret Garden, a once-forgotten garden becomes a place of transformation—not just for plants, but for people. As Mary Lennox tends to the garden, something inside her begins to heal. She becomes more open, more alive, more connected.
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”
— Frances Hodgson Burnett
The story reminds us that gardens don’t just change the landscape—they change us. Even the smallest act of nurturing something living can unlock healing and hope in places we didn’t know needed tending.
Unexpected Growth at Work
We’ve planted gardens with Fortune 500 companies, tech startups, law firms, accounting firms, educators, and healthcare teams. Every time we gather, something new blooms: a fresh collaboration, a moment of calm, a shared sense of purpose.
When you place your hands in soil, something shifts. You slow down. You tune in. You grow—not just a garden, but a healthier relationship with stress, with yourself, and with your team.
“Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years.”
— Unknown
The Takeaway: Grow What Matters
Whether you’re growing microgreens on your kitchen counter, tropical plants on your desk, herbs on your patio, or resilience in your heart, one truth remains:
You may set out to grow basil—but don’t be surprised when you also grow joy.
You may plant rosemary—but somehow, hope shows up too.
You may tend a container garden—but watch as your confidence grows with it.
That’s the beauty of it.
Gardens don’t just feed us—they heal us, teach us, and remind us that the best things in life are often the ones we never expected.