Pensive Tuesday: Armchair Travel Through Gardening

I'm probably like most people in that I have a list of places I want to visit, but probably never will. I am very fortunate in that I've been able to travel to many countries and places in my life, but hey, there are always more! This is not a phase of my life when travel is likely, however. Which is OK, because I can be in those places, a little, through my garden....



Photo: Mimmo Jodice, "Mediterranean"

I can't at this moment visit Greece or return to the Mediterranean, but I can grow many of the plants that I love from that region. Immortelle, lavender, and rosemary, for example. So I can smell the plants of Mediterranean Italy or France, even if I'm not actually standing there.

I've always wanted to visit the Karoo, and many other places in South Africa, and to see Proteas growing wild. That trip is a ways in the future, but until then, I can grow many of the plants from the Karoo, and that makes me happy. Sadly, Proteas are not possible for me here but I'm working on it!

I miss the US Southwestern desert of my youth, but I am reminded of it every day when I see my "Amigos"- the cacti from that part of the world. By growing these cacti, a little bit of my favorite place on Earth lives with me right here and now.
So "garden-bench traveling" is my mode these days. Do any of you travel via your gardens??