This is a good time of year to take a good look at your (therapeutic) garden and the overall landscape. Winter pulls away the veil and lets us more clearly view the structure of the natural environment.
Less day light and colder temperatures can limit out time outdoors, especially for older adults. The results can be, for some people, seasonal depression. We always benefit from from spending time in the sunlight. Taking a walk through the park or even out in the garden can do two important things to help alleviate these feelings of depression. The first thing is that exercise will help to boost production of serotonin levels and that will help to make us feel better. The second element to this activity is that the sunlight will help to balance our circadian rhythms which are the natural wake, sleep cycles of the body. The key here is to remain active and a good way to do that is in the outdoor environment. Sometimes, during the winter months, when it is not possible to get outside on certain days, visitng an indoor garden may be the next best thing. If there is a botanical garden in your community, look into becoming a member or just making a visit to get acquainted. Spending time in these indoor gardens can be another good way to help relieve the winter time blues. The warmer temperatures and humid air will help you feel like you are in your garden in the summer time. All of the lush plants and great variety of species will defiinitely excite the senses. Think of it as a mini vacation in your winter therapeutic garden. Be sure to bring a book, maybe some of those plant catalogues that have been arriving in the mail and a note pad to jot down all of those good ideas. Spend some time, as often as you can, and look forward to spring when you will be outside again in your own garden. And – be sure to keep an eye out for those early spring bulbs. It may be a little too soon. However, as the saying goes – hope springs eternal.
We intuitively believe that nature is good for us. Research by Mayer, Frantz, Bruehlman-Senecal and Dolliver has shown that we do benefit from spending time in the natural world. The research study ” Why is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connections to Nature“, Sept. 5, 2008, demonstrated that people who walked in an arboretum “experienced higher levels of private self-awareness and awareness of their immediate environment.” The study indicates that people who are outside in nature “reap greater psychological benefits.” There exists a greater need to create outdoor environments that encourage people connect with the natural world. Examples include and are not limited to the involvement in organic gardens, nature paths, arboretum, bike rides, nature centers and other nature focused settings. The ability to spend time in nature is very important for ourselves and everyone. Our goal should be to create the opportunities that allow people to access nature on a dialy basis.
Seed catalogues have started to arrive and they are a welcome sign that spring cannot be that far away. Many of the catalogues are highlighting more of the heirloom vegetables. These plants offer greater variety in the garden in the way of color and flavor. There are tomatoes, as an example, that are orange, pink or purple in color. These tomatoes offer flavors that are different from any of the more common beefsteak varieties that are on the market today. It is worth searching out these plants as seeds of the plants themselves. They are sure to bring fun and excitement to the garden. And to the table as well. It may even be a reason to get some people to try vegetables that they may have not wanted to eat in the past. [The garden pictured above is a community garden that Nancy & I share with two other families, here, in Medford. The garden plot is approximately 20′ by 20′. There are other gardens pictures in the photograph. The community garden has been a place to experiment with new or older varieties of plants. I have been wanting to use more of the heirloom tomatoe plants and will try them this year. Half of the fun is getting together at the garden to do some weeding, pick the vegetables as they ripen and to share a glass of wine. The garden is as much a place to socialize as it is to grow our own fresh, organic produce.]
As you move indoors for the colder winter months, you can bring a bit of nature with you. Think about adding a small table top water feature, herbs on a kitchen window sill and plants in various rooms. Fresh cut flowers will enliven any room. Even better, bring some flowers to a friend when you visit. Maybe a photograph of your garden in a picture frame will remind you of the garden and what to look forward to in 2009. This is a good way to use nature to help bring a calmness to your home and office.
As the days grow shorter in daylight and temperatures drop down to the freezing mark, we often looks for ways to spend time outdoors and remain connected to nature. However, we may not spend as much time outside as we typically do during the warmer months. One of the ways is to stay actively engaged is to help feed the birds. This is a task that does not require long hours outside. In fact, taking a few minutes to fill the bird feeders is very important for out winged friends. They need our help during the winter months. And, it is a good reason to venture outside. Not all bird migrate for the winter. The ones that remain for the winter must maintain a constant body temperature because they are warm blooded animals. In order to generate enough heat, they spend much of their time feeding. These birds typically switch from an insect diet (summer) to seed (winter). Look to create a feeding area that offers easy access to food and also provides protective cover from predators. Evergreen trees and shrubs, such as pines and hollies offer cover and a source of food. Depending upon the specific type of feeder, you can attract different birds. This is a great activity to start, now, especially in senior communities. Think of giving a bird feeder (or two) to someone this holiday season. You will be helping to create a new hobby for that individual and protecting a little bit of nature at the same time.
Recent Case Studies
Contact Information
Design For Generations, LLC
Jack Carman F.A.S.L.A.
92 Tallowood Drive
Medford NJ 08055
Voice – 609-953-5881
Fax – 609-953-1625
jack@designforgenerations.com
www.designforgenerations.com
