Since time immemorial, man has tended to gardens of all sorts and shapes. The Kanazawa Gardens in Japan stands out for its unparalleled beauty. Built over the span of 200 years starting in the middle of the 17th century, the ideal landscape will win you over, bringing peace and tranquility to your soul. Small wonder why it occupies the top spot as one of the three most beautiful gardens of the Asian land.
In America, we also boast of the world-famous Botanic Garden in Brooklyn. The 52-acre garden located right at the heart of New York is certainly a joy to behold. Those 200 cherry trees should leave your jaws dropping when the month-long blossom comes around.
And yet, there’s more to keeping a garden than meets the eye. If you’ve been sitting on the fence unsure if a garden is worth your time, then it’s time you end your indecision. There are a host of reasons gardening can turn your life for the better. Here are 5 to jumpstart your journey.
Self-esteem Booster
Think about it. When you spend time with your garden, you focus on keeping the plants as healthy as can be. It captivates you, taking you away from the cares of the world. And indeed by doing so you boost your confidence. After all, by gardening, you can do something positive.
And it’s not just us. A British study found out that spending as little as 3 minutes in a week can be a big boost to your self-esteem. Even better, it can minimize negative emotions such as depression and anger. Why limit yourself to 30 minutes every week when you can do more with stay-in-place orders?
Heart Health
Here’s another reason for you. To note, heart disease is America’s #1 killer year in year out (before the virus). Fortunately, tending to your plants can be a good workaround that.
And again, a British study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine explains that. It shows those that who engage in low-level exercise, in particular gardening, have a reduced risk of heart disease. Specifically, those, who did gardening one hour a week reduced their risk by as much as 12 percent. Those that did it two hours per week reduced their risk by 37 percent.
Now if you’ve been mulling over developing your front lawn, perhaps it’s high time you let a garden or two become part and parcel of the design. While you may not think it, experts in the design of your landscape can incorporate these gardens. Truly, these professionals can scale it to not just look good but also really amazing.
That way you hit two birds in one stone. You gain a most beautiful lawn while keeping your health in tiptop shape.
Stress Reliever
Having a beautiful garden is also a great way to reduce stress. It can also be your haven that can ease the pain and make the stress go away. In short, all the me-time can be beneficial for your mental health.
And all that has to do with all the greens. Studies point out that those who spend ample time tending to plants experience less stressful lives. To a large extent, plants have a soothing effect on humans allowing us to rechannel our stress the right way.
More of Nature
Think of all the advantages you have working outdoors. You may not realize it but the air outside is a lot fresher than inside. Yup, don’t be fooled by all that air conditioning and HVAC.
As you inhale fresh air outside, you indulge to air with more oxygen. Oxygen, to note, is the food of the brain. The more oxygen your brain uses, the better it functions. And that’s just for starters.
Your blood also longs for oxygen. The more oxygen it carries, the better your body systems work to boost your overall productivity. Even better, fresh air is a great way to fight depression. How? The more oxygen is being circulated the better the production of serotonin, the happy hormone.
And yes, how about sunshine? When you spend more time outside, you expose yourself to more sun. Sunlight is a major source of vitamin D, the bone vitamin. Plus, like fresh air, it also boosts the production of your body’s happy hormone, serotonin. So you not only get to have tons of vitamins to strengthen your bones, but you also boost your mood.
Growing fruits and vegetables in your garden can be a good benefit to your own home. Why? Simply because you’re growing fruits and vegetables that are as fresh as can be, free from the harmful effects of preservatives and pesticides. In effect, you get tasty food that’s the fruits of your labor.
