Music to Garden By....

Does your gardening life have its own background music? And I don't mean in the sense of elevator music, but in the sense of music whose rhythms match your own, that comforts, inspires, calms or stirs you up.

In the springtime, when the weather is more encouraging and I'm so excited to get out there and plant, the tunes in my head are all the company I need to garden for hours. But this time of year, when it's so cold and wet outside, I launch myself out the door by plugging into the warmth and liveliness of my "In the Garden" playlist. Tucking an iPod Nano into that little slit pocket in my fleece and anchoring earbuds with a warm hat, I feel fortified to cut back, clean up, and get the bulbs into the ground. Should I be embarrassed to admit my iPod has become as indispensable as a waterproof pair of gardening gloves and a sturdy trowel?

I'd love to hear about your favorite gardening tunes, the background music to your gardening life; my gardening playlist changes seasonally, but here are a few songs I'm listening to this fall:

Harvest Moon, Neil Young

What a Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong

Daydream, The Lovin' Spoonful

Nature, India Arie

Singing Softly to Me,  Kings of Convenience

1234, Feist (a bit more contemporary than most of my picks)

Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding - this is an all-season song, on every playlist I've ever made.

Season of the Witch, Donovan - definitely indicated for autumn gardening - enjoy......

Comments

[Karen Platt]

Well for the black garden, there is nothing like a little Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald or Louis Armstrong.

Good luck with the new book.

[valerie Easton]

Hi Karen,
Thanks for the suggestions for the black garden..."Season of the Witch" would work well, too...and Michael Jackson would be timely...
Val

[Town Mouse]

Fun post! I admit that so far, I've just listened to birds and traffic, but some tasks might benefit from a little rhythm.

I'm fond of classical music, and might enjoy the Four Seasons by Vivaldi (love that harvest dance in the fall movement) or maybe that piece by Mozart that has all the birds in it? Schubert's Trout would also be fun.

[valerie Easton]

Exactly as you say - some tasks would benefit from a little rhythm. Classical sounds good, and when I'm doing a more meditative task, like raking out ornamental grasses or a big pruning project, I've listened to gorgeous, soothing chanting by the Cisterian Monks....
Val

[Riz Reyes]

Great post idea, I'm going to steal it! LOL

[Emmon]

Hi Valerie! We just blogged about this lovely post at www.QuestionAndPlanter.com. Please let me know if you want anything changed! Happy Holidays!