Haha - great post Stuart. One thing that impressed us when we moved to our new house was the variety of sounds in the garden. I especially love the sound of the breeze in the pine trees, it's like the wind is a living thing. And we have myriad birds, frogs, cicadas and others too. I even chose not to put the windchimes up, that I used to have and my previous house, so I could listen to the garden instead :-)

Outside today I heard the birds that come to our feeders--goldfinches, juncoes, chickadees, a couple of big fat crows, some raucous but charmingly beautiful bluejays, and the important male ringnecked pheasant. The trees and shrubs and perennials are all slumbering under their blankets of snow and ice, except for the beech with its marcescent leaves, rustling in the hint of wind. The message was "go back inside, make hot chocolate, and don't worry. It'll be spring before you know it. Kthxbai!" I definitely heard that. About the hot chocolate, anyway.

Not much sound in the garden today, Stuart, other than the crunch of winter's snow under my feet - and some annoying ringing in the ears from my tinnitus.

But in summer there's nothing more enjoyable than to listen to the birds, the squirrels chattering, and the gentle sounds of the small wind chimes. We might put in one of those recirculating pumps for a small water feature, which would also add to the enjoyment.

Thanks so much for the great post. It is indeed as important to 'listen' to your garden as it is to enjoy its frangrance. Hank

I love your comparison to sound in a garden and the health of said garden. When I first began gardening here ... oh dear... nearly thirty years ago, my son and I fell in love with the bird calls and songs. The cicadas and crickets in the summer are amazing. Spring evenings find me outside truly "listening" to the new growth... pushing up through the leaves... it is quite extraordinary. To hear your garden grow. You are so right that we should take time to hear our gardens Stuart. To listen whenever in nature. Just now it is quiet, for much of the garden is beneath a foot of fresh snow. There are the drips from the roof from the sun melt and the sound of soft snow falling on snow from the tree and shrub branches ... gee I cannot think of the word for that! The birds are not singing or even calling much and I cannot hear the subtle melting of snow crystals... maybe I should try harder! When there is wind or a slight breeze, I hear the naked tree limbs and branches knocking like wooden chimes. These days I mostly hear the wood stove fire greedily consuming the wood I feed it. ;>)

Very interesting way of thinking about things Stuart.

Do you think I could charge labour for 'listening' to my next customer? hmmm, don't think that'd be taken well :D

The sounds I most enjoy are the pock, pock of woodpeckers.

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When we first got married, my wife would hardly go out into the garden at all. Then one night I made a big deal of her coming outside to sit quietly in it with me for a few minutes. Her sense of awe and wonder magnified at least an order of magnitude as she sat quietly, listened intently and heard the garden growing on a still summer night.

She keeps a chair out there now and uses it often.