What do jigsaw puzzles and gardens have in common? The connecting pieces may surprise you. On the surface we think of them as two very different types of activities. Jigsaw puzzles are typically considered a mostly cerebral indoor activity. Gardening, on the other hand, is oftentimes an outdoor effort and most definitely a physical endeavor. But if we look beyond the surface, we may find pieces of commonality that contribute to success in both endeavors.
- Take a Long-term View - this requires Patience and a Methodical Approach. Determine your long-term view or envision your end result and then assemble piece by piece, step by step, for your desired picture to emerge.
- Start with a Framework - in the case of puzzles it's the border or edge pieces. For a garden, it is the hardscape elements as well as beds and borders. Pick an area to start then build on it.
- Composition - flowers, birds, and nature are all elements that are readily available in jigsaw puzzle images these days. The puzzle illustrations can invoke emotional responses similar to when experiencing an actual garden.
- The current assembly dictates what piece you need next - envision what you need then look for it. This approach usually meets with success more readily than picking up random pieces and trying to figure out the best place to put them.
- Arrangement and orientation is everything and makes all the difference in whether a piece works or not. If they don't fit or look right one way, rotate pieces or re-locate them until you find their perfect position.
- It's more about the process than the result
For a more in-depth exploration of the puzzling and gardening commonalities, read Adrian Higgins article featured in the Washington Post.
If you would like to experience the garden elements in the Naranjas puzzle cited in the article, you can find it in our Puzzlicious Jigsaw Collection here: https://www.puzzlicious.com/products/naranjas-1000-piece-puzzle
Sources: The Washington Post, Adrian Higgins - Completing the garden puzzle, one piece at a time