Horticultural therapy relaxes us through exposure to ... NATURE

By LILLIAN QUARANTA

OSU Extension master gardener volunteer

CANFIELD

We Ohioans look forward with great anticipation to the warm breeze and smell of spring.

After a particularly frigid stretch of winter, who didn’t enjoy short sleeves and flip flops (even if the temperature was only 46 degrees)? I had an idea that may help us survive the dreaded ice that keeps us housebound next winter.

This spring, summer and fall let’s not only enjoy the season, but also prepare for next year’s wind chills.

But how is that done?

A couple of years ago on the Valley Grows page, I researched the benefits of nature in our lives and realized horticultural therapy is real.

Immersion in a natural environment for just 15 minutes a day changes the physiology of our body and brain for the better, and the therapy is free.

Walk in the woods, plant a row of lettuce, smell the lavender, or sit in our backyard and listen to the quiet. All of these activities reduce the stress of an active or sedentary lifestyle by distracting us from the same old stress and mundane tasks.

What is not mentioned in the horticultural therapy article are the studies and experiments proving that even a picture of a landscape, flower garden or forest can produce the same physiological effects as a nature walk.

It’s as if we are experiencing the place again, right now, by enjoying the same sounds, smells and conversations.

Instead of the anxiety and depression that fixating on icy patches on our front porch brings us, how about a picture of our walk in Poland Woods, or a picture of red, tomato juice running down mom’s cheek from the first tomato, or a sunset in the backyard?

Or how about a picture of our toddler’s dirt-streaked face – so proud to weed the garden for the first time. Wouldn’t it be a treat to live through that winter? So, it’s worth a shot, don’t you think?

Make it a goal to take pictures of the things you love in your garden and in nature this year.

Take it a step further and print 5x7s or 8x10s. Frame the pictures, arrange them on a wall with a comfortable chair in front of them.

Put in our ear plugs and hang a little sign that says, “Shhhh … Quiet, please ... I’m lowering my blood pressure.”

The only danger I can foresee with our own personal rendition of horticultural therapy is that we may find when we check our watch, the 15 minutes has become an hour.

Here’s to a great year of enjoying your garden and the nature around you for even more enjoyment during the next winter.

Here are some sources and in-depth reading on the subject:

Nature and our Well-Being: go.osu.edu/wellbeing.

The Healing Power of Nature: go.osu.edu/natureheals.

Connecting with Nature for Wellness and Balance: go.osu.edu/natureconnection.