First find the total time Carson spends mowing: 40 lines * 2 minutes/line = <<40*2=80>>80 minutes
Then find the total number of flowers Carson plants: 8 rows * 7 flowers/row = <<8*7=56>>56 flowers
Then multiply that number by the time taken to plant each flower to find the total time spent planting flowers: .5 minutes/flower * 56 flowers = <<.5*56=28>>28 minutes
Finally, add that time to the time spent mowing to find the total time spent gardening: 28 minutes + 80 minutes = <<28+80=108>>108 minutes
#### 108