Jenna Illies lives in the Annex, a Toronto neighbourhood dotted with parkettes and flanked by large parks where residents flock in warmer months.
But since the new coronavirus forced Canadians indoors, going for walks has somewhat lost its charm. That’s why Illies turned to gardening.
Without gardening, Illies would have very little interaction with the outdoors — something she suspects would significantly impair her mental health. “I’ve never had the opportunity to be a big gardener, but it’s always interested me,” she said. “Since the pandemic started, I’ve made two cuttings from my huge pothos plant … and now they’re my plant babies.” Illies is also grateful that, last fall, she decided plant tulip bulbs in her small front yard. “Though