For Pamela Anderson, life is all about the simple things. She may be a world-famous model and actress, but outside of the spotlight, she prefers the sanctuary of nature, the sound of birds, and the feeling of her hands in the soil.
As major fans of her Vancouver Island farm, Homes & Gardens caught up with Pamela about how she makes gardening part of her wellness routine. Alongside her beauty products from Sonsie, the actress counts spending time in her backyard as among her most recharging activities.
'I’m allowing myself to rest right now,' explains Pamela. 'I’m taking a month in my garden to decompress after filming Alma… it was intense, and before I jump into my next film adventure. I want to think of nothing but nature.'
She tells Homes & Gardens: 'The garden is my re-entry back to myself. To begin again … it’s how the garden works. It’s full of inspiration. When in doubt. I put my sun hat on, my gardening gloves, boots, and grab my clippers and a harvest basket and head down to my garden by the sea.'
As huge fans of green therapy, we can't help but be charmed by how Pamela uses her stunning backyard as an escape from the everyday world. Harvesting vegetables, planting flowers, and pruning feel akin to making art in her eyes.
'It’s full of surprises,' she explains of her garden. 'It’s not in our full control. Nature is powerful, playful and wise. It’s a great way to start the day .. a little watering goes a long way. Tending to life, simplicity. Cutting roses for the cabins or weeding into a bucket … I love it all.'
Like her approach to beauty, Pamela likes to keep things natural, and sustainable gardening is central to her philosophy. Everything on the farm is circular.
'I keep all plant matter on the property for compost, a leaf mould, or fallen trees (natural causes),' She states. 'The wood chips and mulch come mostly from this piece of land.'
Even the products Pamela uses on her skin feed this ecosystem. Pamela's barrier moisturizer, the Adapt Cream from Sonsie, comes in compostable packaging that goes straight back into the farm when she has finished a container.
When she doesn't have her hands in her vegetable beds, Pamela still doesn't go inside. She states: 'I live on Vancouver Island… a rain forest. I’m outside rain or shine. I love feeling the rain on my face and in my hair. I love thunder and lightning. I come alive under a full moon.'
Her simple, functional outdoor furniture reflects her obsession with spending time in nature. It's elevated, but nothing is too fussy.
Pamela says: 'I have Adirondack chairs around a fire pit where we have bonfires. Or on the pier (they stay outside all year). I have my wicker too that we pull in and out depending on the weather. A blanket picnic in the wildflower field full of butterflies or on the rocky beach visited by crabs. We aren’t precious.'
The Edit: Shop Pamela's Outdoor Favorites
Pamela keeps it simple in the garden with elevated basics that tap into her classic, lived-in style. Here are our editors' picks inspired by the furniture and tools she uses everyday.
Fall in love with this beautifully curved rattan love seat from Pamela's own collection at Olive Ateliers. Upholstered in stunning performance fabric, it's designed to last a lifetime and even get better with age.
Who knew gardening gloves could be this pretty? These stylish yet functional gloves are the perfect addition to your gardening shed as a fashion-conscious gardener.
Ground your picnic scene with this vibrant blanket from Magnolia. Between its yellow and white stripe pattern and its fringe edges, this blanket just screams summer, and is perfect for relaxing in the garden all season long.
Make like Pamela with a basket-style vegetable trug – perfect for harvesting your lovingly grown vegetables come summer. It has a distinctly European feel and would be gorgeous styled on the kitchen countertop after a harvest.
If you're looking for outdoor furniture that'll stand the test of time, whatever the weather, this modern Adirondack chair is it. With a sturdy frame and durable coating, it's a reliable choice perfect for even the wettest of days.
Designed for harvesting, these will be an essential tool in your vegetable gardener's kit, and they come recommended by Garden's Content Editor, Drew Swainston.
As you might expect from the way she speaks about it, Pamela's love for gardening is deeply spiritual as well as psychological.
She explains: 'I believe rosemary should be at every garden gate... it is lucky, (and is good for memory). I have St Francis watching over my garden. I love an altar inside and outside. I pray and meditate in my garden.'
Pamela's daily routine aligns with her love for gardening - the idea that good things take time feels top of mind as she moves through life on the farm.
She tells Homes & Gardens: 'I wake up, let my dogs out, feed them… then I do my Sonsie routine, light a candle at my altar for world peace, I throw my hair up in a scrunchie or scarf and get outside to walk every morning, with my mom lately.'
She continues: 'I check on my gardens daily when I’m home. I write in my journal in the morning, but sometimes at night these days. I feel clearer in the mornings, but I’m also curious about my end-of-day thoughts when they don’t come so naturally or so pretty. It’s like the waste of the day. It still needs to come out.'
Connecting with nature through gardening is not just an aesthetic practice, it can also be a huge part of our wellness and spirituality. When we view these activities holistically, that's when the real magic happens.
Shop Pamela's Skincare Essentials
Made with 12% glycerin and 0.5% hyaluronic acid, this stunningly rich cream gives dry, sensitive skin an instant moisture boost. It is clinically proven to maintain 20% more hydration than before use, will leave you glowy (not greasy!) all day.
This beautifully packaged cleansing mousse is made with aloe vera juice, ginger root extract, and bisabolol to keep sensitive skin calm. It's perfect for calming redness and protecting skin from environmental stressors.
Made with niacinamide and mountain pepper extract, this gorgeous serum evens skin tone and texture. It creates lasting hydration and a dewy glow without heaviness.
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