What are you thankful for

September 13, 2026

Patricia Hanbidge, Lead Horticulturist, Orchid Horticulture

Key points from this story:

• Thanksgiving gathering reflections
• Importance of pausing in life
• Ladybugs in the garden
• Beauty of nature surrounds us
• Bountiful summer harvest
• Share your garden gratitude

As I am out in a garden, my thoughts wander to a gathering I am hosting for Thanksgiving this year. It got me thinking about how wonderful my life really is and how important it is to "pause" and just take a moment to look at your life! There is no better place to do this than in the garden.

What are you thankful for in your life? Do you take a moment in the garden to think about what it is that you really love about your life? Can we all really appreciate what it is that life offers to you? Sometimes, what is right in front of us we miss and really do not see the beauty that is all around us.

Right now, I am in a different part of Saskatchewan and have taken a quick trip here to help a family member get their outdoor space ready for the quiet time of winter. This space is wonderful for many reasons as it is really a true slice of prairie, and I am enjoying the scents of pasture sage while I tidy this space up.

As I am puttering around in the perennial beds, I find a treasure trove of ladybugs already finding a nice spot to keep warm. Did you know that ladybugs rely on the mulch areas to burrow in to stay warm while winter approaches? Sometimes in the fall or in the spring, there are so many ladybugs that creep out of the mulch layer that you are literally surrounded by these amazing beneficial insects. It is important to think about the little creatures in your outdoor spaces so we can ensure we make the seasons hospitable for them as well!

As I pause, my eyes follow the flight of a hawk as he flies down the valley. It makes me wonder what it might be like to soar above the ground and enjoy the ability to look down at everything around you! The image attached to this article mimics the path that my eye followed. I hope that you enjoy the view! To me the view itself is worth a million dollars!

So as fall overcomes summer, I reflect upon how the summer went - in the garden. Was your harvest bountiful? Mine was just right with some bountiful harvests giving me the opportunity to put some food by, while at other times, the harvest was just enough to make food for my family.

What are you doing right now? Are you enjoying some time getting your garden ready for winter? Regardless of where your garden is and how large or small it might be, there is a chance for you to "pause" at least for a moment and enjoy what you are experiencing. Perhaps you have a million-dollar view that you might want to share with others in your life that might appreciate it. Perhaps you have just harvested the biggest pumpkin you have ever grown, or maybe you have just picked your favourite heirloom tomatoes. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing - take a moment and see what you are thankful for.

As we have a bit of time before Thanksgiving Day, and if you have a moment, I would love for you to share an image or a few words on what you are thankful for in your life. Let's keep it related to the garden, but your perspective of the sky, or the earth in your garden count as being worthy of a snapshot or a comment. Closer to Thanksgiving, I will share with you some of what has been shared with me between now and then.