Step outside

Let the sights and sounds of nature calm you at any time of the day.

Every green thumb knows there's something therapeutic about a day spent outdoors. Working outside, experiencing the colors, fragrances, and sounds of nature, awakens the senses and revitalizes the spirit, whether you're watering billowing hydrangeas or simply inhaling the earthy scent of fresh-cut flowers.

No matter if you prefer barbecuing on a patio or tilling soil in the garden, any time you spend outdoors can be an easy way to calm your mind and lift your mood.

"There are many studies that show that breathing fresh air and being in contact with plants can certainly benefit us," says Elizabeth Messer Diehl, editor of the Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, a collection of scientific articles about nature's healing powers. "I think that when people put themselves in natural settings, they feel very comfortable-like they're meant to be in those places," she continues. "That is really something that helps us get rid of stress."

Unfortunately, too often we admire gorgeous days only through our windshields on the morning commute or during a walk to the mailbox. Routinely, we cite busy work schedules as our excuse for staying indoors. The truth is, losing yourself in morning gardening or reading on the porch while your worries dissolve like sugar in lemonade can restore your focus and give you energy for the rest of the day's tasks. Recent studies indicate that something as simple as becoming captivated by a butterfly as it flits around a flower or watching the clouds go by can give you a much-needed mental break.

"For me, it's a way to find centeredness," says Nancy Easterling, president of The American Horticultural Therapy Association and education specialist and curator of the herb garden at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. "If you're feeling out of balance, a short walk outside can help you center yourself again and put yourself back in order for the work ahead."

Horticultural therapy uses gardening activities to improve a patient's physical, social, and mental well-being. This healing art often complements other therapies, and it has proven to be beneficial for physically disabled, mentally ill, and socially disadvantaged patients.

So step outside, and give in to nature's lure during these glorious days. If you're an early bird, make mornings a time to water thirsty plants or cut favorite flowers. If taking a load off under a sunny afternoon sky is more your style, sneak away to a park on your lunch hour for a peaceful picnic under a tree. For you night owls, plan evening barbecues or casual garden dinner parties. Whenever you can manage a spare moment, make summer your time to enjoy the outdoors.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jun 2003
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved