Was I surprised that “Wellness Gardens” is a Spring 2024 trend? No, not really. A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on how gardening can boost our health and longevity. What does surprise me is that so many people (including health experts) are just now realizing that gardening is a tonic for both body and mind.
Some of the few businesses that did well during the pandemic were home hardware and greenhouses. I’m sure you’ll never forget ordering your plants ahead of time and doing a drive-by pickup…everyone keeping adequate social distancing just to be safe. I’m guessing this was the first time many of us entered the gardening world, and for the seasoned gardener, it may have been a frustrating time with supply chain issues, etc. But gardening gave us peace from the chaos around us, removing the noise of everyday life. Spending just a couple of hours a week in your garden will boost your mood, leaving your worries behind and can possibly ward off dementia.
Gardens are personal, as we all crave something different that speaks to our individual preferences and needs. Ideally, we are creating spaces, “Wellness Gardens”, to stimulate all the senses.
All flowers are beautiful, and nature has a way of combining colours and textures that always work. Finding fragrant flowers enhances the experience. Classic flowers like lilacs, peonies, roses, and flowering shrubs like hydrangea are no longer considered pedestrian. All are beautiful, elegant, and relatively low-maintenance while attracting pollinators. The trend shows cottage gardens (a 100% increase in requests) are replacing contemporary looks favoured not long ago.
Adding a water feature to the garden instantly cools and relaxes. Smaller plunge pools are an alternative to babbling water features or swimming pools. They are often less expensive and require less maintenance while adding practicality and beauty. If bird song and squirrel chatter are not music to your ears, perhaps the melodic notes of a windchime will play just the right tune. A kitchen garden can be squeezed into the smallest of spaces…even in a container…and may encourage you to cook healthier meals for your family.
As the days get longer, the sun gets higher, and the temperatures rise, I can’t wait to get my hands and feet dirty again (especially knowing all the health benefits that lie below the surface) and soak up a year’s worth of vitamin D in just a few months. Dirt-y Wellness season has begun! Let’s make the most of it…
xox Judy❤️
