Unplug, Disconnect, Bloom

By: Joanne Mohan

In recent years, garden therapy has gained recognition as a powerful tool for enhancing mental and emotional well-being. This therapeutic practice involves engaging with plants, flowers, and the natural environment to promote healing and relaxation. For many, the garden becomes a sanctuary where stress melts away, creativity flourishes, and a deeper connection with nature is established.

Make-Elderberry-Syrup

Garden therapy integrates horticulture, psychology, and nature-based practices. It can take many forms, including planting, pruning, weeding, and simply enjoying the beauty of flowers and greenery. Research shows that spending time in nature can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and enhance overall mental health. Gardening requires mindfulness and focus, allowing individuals to engage in the present moment, a crucial component of stress relief and emotional resilience.

Starting your garden therapy practice doesn’t require a large backyard or extensive gardening knowledge. Here are a few simple steps to get started:

Choose Your Space: Whether you have a balcony, a small backyard, or a windowsill, any space can be transformed into a therapeutic garden.

Select Your Plants: Consider easy-to-care-for plants such as herbs, succulents, or flowering plants that bring you joy. Aromatic herbs can engage your senses and heighten relaxation.

grow-a-tea-garden
grow-a-tea-garden

Engage Your Senses: Make the experience multisensory. Feel the soil in your hands, listen to the sounds of nature, and smell the fragrances of your plants.

Be Mindful: Approach your gardening time as a form of meditation. Please focus on the task at hand, whether planting seeds, watering, or simply observing the growth in your garden.

Create a Routine: Regular interaction with your garden can lead to more substantial benefits. Set aside time each week for your gardening activities, making it a priority in your self-care routine.

As you engage with the plants, you will learn their benefits and how to harvest petals, leaves, roots, and fruit and use them as natural therapies for creams, syrups, tinctures, and art projects. Parklane Landscapes is hosting classes on the last Thursday of each month, teaching participants to create their own cream and tea garden, syrups, and tinctures and exploring creative petal art. 

make-a-herbal-cream

Embrace the therapeutic power of gardening and foster a deeper connection with the natural world—it might just change your life. 

Sign up now for classes at https://www.parklanelandscapes.ca/parklaneliving