Garden planning in the cold winter months can be a time of great joy and expectation. I love spending time on chilly winter days dreaming and designing our spring garden. It is fun to find new plants and shrubs and change up what flowers and herbs go where. I am still learning about which ones are both bee-friendly and thrive in the southeast. At first, I wonder if I’ve planted enough and if the gardens will look sparse. As the temperatures warm, I watch, water, and welcome each small plant that emerges and blooms. They all look so fresh and colorful.
Then comes summer. That’s when it all seems to come together. The later bloomers of summer add their unique beauty to the spring blossoms bringing the whole area alive with color and texture. Unexpected volunteers that re-seeded from last year begin to make their appearance as well. Turns out the garden areas that I thought were going to look sparse are now full and fragrant.
Autumn Equinox
We are now in the midst of Fall – it’s my favorite season of the year. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Fall, also known as the autumn equinox, officially arrived here in the Northern Hemisphere at 3:20 P.M. (EDT), Wednesday, September 22, 2021.
One of my favorite features of Fall is the cooling temperatures. At first, it is subtle – one-day cooler, the next day hot. Right along with the changing temps, the humidity levels begin to drop slowly as well. Humidity has been one of my biggest challenges to adjusting to our new home here in the east, but air-conditioning helps me acclimate significantly.
As autumn approaches, my flowers – especially my black-eyed Susan’s begin to look a bit shabby and disheveled as they slow down on their blooming, and the flowers that have already bloomed lose their petals. It leaves the garden with tall, stark stalks topped off with big brown centers.
On the upside, the beautiful yellow finches and a few other birds love eating the seeds found in the big brown centers. I try to find a balance between dead heading the flowers to get a few more blooms and leaving them for the birds to enjoy.
Gardens grow benefits
Exercise, stress reduction, and memory triggers are among the numerous benefits of gardening.
Flowers help reduce stress by stimulating the senses. They also benefit wildlife by attracting birds and butterflies, as well as giving off lovely fragrances. Time spent enjoying a garden increases the attention span while reducing pain and stress.
Another advantage of gardening is that it allows a person to get outside and enjoy a little exercise in the fresh air. We can also soak up a bit of beneficial vitamin D. We don’t want too much sunshine though it’s best to use wisdom with hats and sunscreen.
The National Institutes of Health conducted a study that found gardening is beneficial to both mental and physical health. The NIH also discovered that gardening lowers our risk of developing dementia by 36%.
A comparative study by R. Nakamura, and E. Fujii which compared the brain activity between people gazing at A Hedge and A Concrete Block Fence. They found that viewing a concrete block fence brings sensory stress. On the other hand, the hedge has a function to soften the stress levels.
Alternative gardening
If you find it hard for you or a loved one to go outside regularly, you may discover interesting or colorful indoor plants and herbs can also provide a source of delight. Community gardens might be a good alternative for you if there is no convenient area for plants at your home. Visiting public and botanical gardens can also offer joy by viewing the beautiful colors and enjoying the various fragrances.
No matter how you get growing, plan, and plant something to nurture into full color and fragrance. It won’t take too long before the benefits begin to bloom.
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It’s great to know that looking at gardens softens stress.
That’s amazing that gardening can lower the effects of dementia by 36%
Our plan is to plant our garden in pots around our back yard so that we can enjoy the plants and garden but may lower the amount of weeds 😁
Thank you for all that you shared.
I think I will be like you, that humidity will be my biggest challenge of living in the southeast. However we are so excited to get to begin our new adventure!
Yes, it makes me thankful for air conditioning. I’m also looking forward to your new adventure!