A pristine morning with nothing to listen to except the birds singing is my preferred gardening soundtrack.
Unfortunately, I am not always gardening under that circumstance, so appropriately I’ve made a pretty chill playlist to drown out the buzz of yard tools, the hysterical clucking of chickens and the high pitched barking floating from across the way. Life in a neighborhood ensures the need for good playlists!
It can be fun to collect songs based on title, song lyric, subject, or just the overall vibe; whatever you can find that connects them. In this case, gardening connects them. Some are songs I know well and some are songs I just discovered via keyword search. These searches expose me to new music and ensure that the playlist is full of surprises, just like any good garden.
The comfy familiarity of an old standard and the suspense of something new combine to provide a soundtrack that will encourage your mind to wander while your hands are busy at work. Sometimes weeding must be done, sometimes rearranging. The only way to know is to listen and adjust.
Tending gardens and tending playlists both require an open mind, a willingness to listen to what the plants or songs are telling you.
I have always wondered if it is true that plants respond to music. I’d like to think that they do; I’ve read studies that claim they do. Perhaps they do enjoy music; a subtle vibration in the air, a rhythmic caress. I like to play music for my plants; I feel as though it helps us align our energies as we all sway in the same bath of sound.
Right now, my garden and I are really digging the playlist below. It’s filled with pretty sounds that have helped herbs thrive, radishes sprout and pepper flowers bloom.
Is your garden your sanctuary? Is there something you like to hear in your garden? Sunday brunches amongst the blooms while listening to Bossanova? Weeding to yacht rock? Feel free to share!
I think plants absolutely vibe to music! And plants make their own sounds as well. Recently I saw something about research showing plants make a sound when they are cut. (yikes!) Which just leads back to (I think) talking to plants as you're working with them. Kinda like I do when I'm brushing my dog or (I hope) my dog-washer does when clipping her nails. Everything needs soothing.