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October 7, 2021
Plants Make You Happy, Plants Make You Healthy
by Joey Bokor
by Joey Bokor
I probably don't have to tell you that nature is good for you. That plants are good for you. That soil is good for you. That planting plants in soil is good for you. It's a lesson that you learned a long time ago. You know that when you're feeling anxious, stressed, angry, or overwhelmed, that just a few minutes in the garden can give you a fresh perspective.
In the book The Nature Fix, by Florence Williams, you'll find the science to back up what you already know. I was lucky enough to see her present her book and its results at a recent garden center conference. What she shared is remarkable. In many of the studies she references (and participated in), just a little time in nature leads to measurable physiological changes in the human body, including reduced heart rate and blood-pressure.
The biggest finding is that you don't have to be in nature full-time to reap the benefits. While spending a week in the mountains or at the beach would be beneficial, she realized that we can't all do that all of the time (but we can dream, right?). And that became the reason for the title The Nature Fix. Little micro-doses of nature are enough. Simply being in the presence of a plant is enough to make us calmer, more rational, and a little healthier. In the end, she found that 20 minutes a day was a sweet spot for balancing nature with life. If you can find 20 minutes a day to be in nature, to be with a plant, to walk in a garden, that's all you need to leverage the benefits of nature.
You probably knew that in your gut already. A little time in the garden goes a long way toward literally grounding us and making us feel like everything is going to be OK. The last 18 months prove that for sure. Your garden has been and will continue to be there for you to get your daily dose of nature.
We hope you'll join us to get your nature fix at the nursery this weekend. Pumpkins are here and the Pumpkin Wall is ready for this year's family picture. And because sometimes you can't get outside, this Saturday, the gardening seminar is about caring for houseplants. Come see how easy it is to bring nature indoors. Whether it is outside in the garden or inside with your favorite houseplants, set yourself up for 20 minutes in nature each day and we know that you'll be happier, healthier, and ready to take on the world.
In the book The Nature Fix, by Florence Williams, you'll find the science to back up what you already know. I was lucky enough to see her present her book and its results at a recent garden center conference. What she shared is remarkable. In many of the studies she references (and participated in), just a little time in nature leads to measurable physiological changes in the human body, including reduced heart rate and blood-pressure.
The biggest finding is that you don't have to be in nature full-time to reap the benefits. While spending a week in the mountains or at the beach would be beneficial, she realized that we can't all do that all of the time (but we can dream, right?). And that became the reason for the title The Nature Fix. Little micro-doses of nature are enough. Simply being in the presence of a plant is enough to make us calmer, more rational, and a little healthier. In the end, she found that 20 minutes a day was a sweet spot for balancing nature with life. If you can find 20 minutes a day to be in nature, to be with a plant, to walk in a garden, that's all you need to leverage the benefits of nature.
You probably knew that in your gut already. A little time in the garden goes a long way toward literally grounding us and making us feel like everything is going to be OK. The last 18 months prove that for sure. Your garden has been and will continue to be there for you to get your daily dose of nature.
We hope you'll join us to get your nature fix at the nursery this weekend. Pumpkins are here and the Pumpkin Wall is ready for this year's family picture. And because sometimes you can't get outside, this Saturday, the gardening seminar is about caring for houseplants. Come see how easy it is to bring nature indoors. Whether it is outside in the garden or inside with your favorite houseplants, set yourself up for 20 minutes in nature each day and we know that you'll be happier, healthier, and ready to take on the world.
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Happy Gardening, The Kerby's Nursery Family 
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The Pumpkin Patch is Open
Come out and enjoy the gourd-geous pumpkins and take a fun fall picture at the pumpkin wall.
When you can't be outside in the garden, be inside! Houseplants are a great way to clean to add the healing power of nature to indoor spaces. If you've tried houseplants and haven't been successful, try the tips below and don't forget that this Saturday, October 9th at 10 a.m. is the Houseplants Seminar. For our full houseplant care sheet and a list of our favorite easy-care houseplants, click here.
Water - You know that we love to lecture you about watering. For outdoor plants, underwatering is usually the biggest issue. For indoor plants, overwatering is one of the most common problems that we see. So don't kill your new #plantbabies with kindness. For most houseplants, you only want to water when the plant has dried out. And don't forget that too wet can look like too dry. Check the soil for dampness before watering.
Humidity - Most houseplants are native to humid, jungle climates (hence urban jungling). Our indoor spaces are constantly dehumidified to keep us comfortable. To increase the humidity for your indoor plants, either give them an occasional misting or keep a saucer with water underneath them.
Keep Leaves Clean - There is always dust settling on surfaces in your home, and that same dust settles on the leaves of your houseplants. Make sure that you occasionally wipe or brush the leaves clean to make sure they get all the sunlight that they need.
Bring Nature Indoors with houseplants. There are so many to choose from that pretty soon, you'll have your own urban jungle. Some come see us or shop a selection of our houseplants online at The Kerby's Houseplant Shop.
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New Arrivals |
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Aglaonema A Colorful Houseplant Sizes and Prices Vary |
Dwarf Lemons and Limes Perfect for Containers 5 Gallon Pot - $79.99 |
Firewitch Dianthus Perfectly Pink 6" Pot - $6.99 |
