In Your Garden: Petrina’s Melbourne Garden

Where the world’s language divides and ranks, Joy’s currency is connection—to yourself, to others, to nature, to the moment you’re living right now. Joy asks nothing of you except to be present, open, and trusting enough to feel it when it comes.

Joy is in the smallest pansy face, the delicate poppy that appears in the corner of the garden and blooms alone for the world to see. Joy is in the riot of tulips, the fields of ranunculus, the bees landing on a flower for a pollen bath, in the blossoms coming off one by one in the wind, dancing like snow. In the light playing on leaves, the girth of a very old tree, in violas growing out of path cracks beside hollyhocks, in the first ladybird to appear or the celebration of all the spring flowers bursting into life briefly together.

Joy has been in nature all along. Add pottering in the garden to the mix and I believe I’ve found the secret to true happiness and peace. What’s better you can give your flowers and joy away to others.

I hope others find the fulfilment that gardening can bring to one’s soul. A garden can hold all of you, our worries, grief, hopes and joy. Watching nature grow is the smallest miracle yet most powerful thing. If I found out tomorrow, I only have three months to live, I would plants thousands and thousands of beautiful flowers then have someone give them away. Flowers lift spirits. Always.

Next year in March 2027 I will release my book, A Garden of Joy. I have loved writing and shooting it- I hope that it will bring you joy too.

Follow along with our #GMInYourGarden series on Instagram @gardenmuseum

Follow Petrina: @petrinablooms