I think that's my strength, that I am an amateur gardener who

In the quiet soil, where life begins anew with each season, there is a deep wisdom that flows through the humble acts of tending the earth. Monty Don, a man who has spent his life cultivating the garden, shares a profound truth: “I think that’s my strength, that I am an amateur gardener who loves gardening. I’ve read about it, I’ve written about it, I’ve done it all my life but at heart, I’m just a passionate amateur gardener.” These words speak of a truth that transcends the boundaries of expertise—one that reminds us that the most meaningful connections to the earth are often those forged not through mastery, but through passion and humility.

What Monty Don reveals is the power of being an amateur—not in the sense of lacking skill, but in approaching the craft of gardening with an open heart and a spirit of discovery. The ancient world, filled with great philosophers and sages, understood that the pursuit of knowledge was not about being the greatest or the most learned, but about embracing a lifelong journey of learning. Socrates, the great philosopher of Athens, famously declared, "I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing." In this humility, Socrates found his greatest strength: the willingness to remain a student of life, ever open to the lessons that each new experience would bring.

In the same way, Monty Don's declaration speaks to the beauty of being an amateur in a world that often prizes expertise above all else. The true joy of gardening, like the pursuit of wisdom, is found not in perfection, but in the process of becoming—in nurturing, observing, and experiencing the quiet miracles that unfold in the soil. It is in this humble pursuit that we find growth—not just in the plants we tend, but in our own hearts and minds. To garden is to be a part of something far greater than oneself, to join with the earth in a shared dance of creation.

Consider the story of the great gardener and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, who, much like Monty Don, was not a master gardener by the standards of his time, but a passionate enthusiast who saw in the garden a deep spiritual connection to nature. Emerson, in his writings, often extolled the virtues of nature, and through his gardening, he connected with something far beyond the simple cultivation of plants. His garden became a sanctuary—a place where the earth’s rhythm mirrored his own spiritual journey. He wrote, “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” In this, Emerson speaks not just of the potential of nature but of the potential within us when we approach life with humility and passion.

Monty Don’s words also underscore the importance of practice over perfection. It is not the perfect garden, the flawless design, or the perfect harvest that brings true satisfaction; it is the act of engagement itself—the rhythm of planting, tending, and nurturing—that reveals the deepest lessons of life. The gardener, like the poet or the artist, must surrender to the process, knowing that growth—whether in the garden or the heart—happens not by force, but by gentle attention and patience. Don’s admission that he is an amateur is, in itself, a powerful lesson: it is not about being the best, but about being present, engaged, and passionate about what we do.

In the ancient tradition of the Zen monks, there was a practice of gardening that went beyond the cultivation of plants. The monks would tend to their gardens as a form of meditation, using the act of raking gravel or trimming plants to center their minds and find inner peace. To them, the garden was not just a space for growth but a sacred reflection of the mind and soul. In their humility, they did not seek to master the garden, but to be present with it, to learn from the earth as it taught them about patience, presence, and non-attachment. This aligns perfectly with Monty Don’s view—that gardening, at its heart, is about being a passionate and humble student of nature, ever open to the lessons it offers.

So, let us take from Monty Don’s words a valuable lesson: in a world that often values expertise over passion, we must remember that the truest connection comes from embracing the journey rather than the destination. Whether in gardening, in life, or in any craft we undertake, it is the love we put into it, the passion that drives us, and the humility with which we approach it that brings the greatest reward. Like the ancient philosophers who understood the power of remaining humble and open, let us too embrace the role of the amateur—not as something less, but as something rich with potential, growth, and wisdom. In the act of gardening, we are not just cultivating plants, but ourselves—learning, growing, and becoming more connected to the earth, to each other, and to the eternal process of becoming.