Unable to get out into the woods for "forest bathing"? Spending time in a garden may be the next best thing. No garden, can't get to a local park? We offer this little video of flowers from our neighborhood.
With current concerns about traveling, we looked for bits of nature close to home—and found it in the gardens of our neighborhood.
“Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.” – John Harrigan.
“Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out-values all the utilities in the world.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The undersides of Rhododendron blooms in spring rain. Photo © Donald J. Rommes.
The current pandemic and resulting economic collapse has caused significant stress in this country. For many people, the loss of a job means not only a loss of income but also the loss of health insurance. Yet if working from home is not an option, going to work can mean risky exposure to the virus.
One proven way to reduce stress and improve immune system function is to be out in nature. But with loss of income and restrictions on travel, getting to green space can be a challenge. Remember that a local park or garden can be a good substitute for being in the woods.
That's what we did this spring and summer. We took frequent walks in our neighborhood, spent time in our local little park, and photographed the flowers in the garden. We offer this video as a reminder of the beauty and tranquility to be found in such nearby places.
We are fortunate to live in a neighborhood with a park and recognize that many people have limited or no access to gardens, and green space. That is especially true for those living in the inner city, the poor, the ill, and the physically challenged.
During the making this little video, we imagined it might bring a little bit of nature to those cut off from it while simultaneously understanding they are among the least likely to ever view it.
For those interested, a recent article in the Atlantic Magazine on the why the pandemic has been so bad in the U.S. and why it is having a disproportionate impact on the poor, click here. The same topic is covered in the National Geographic magazine).
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