CULTIVATING CALM

Explore the science behind plants' power to bolster our mental and physical well-being

- Erica Browne Grivas

Even small encounters with nature make a difference to our creativity.

Why do we feel so much better with our hands in the soil? Gardening is both a mindful act—like spotting an outward-facing leaf node when pruning a rose—and a deeply immersive, sensory experience.

The scent of just-turned soil, the brush of leaves, the rhythm of tending—gardeners have long understood the power of working with nature.

If you're an avid gardener, chances are you've felt these effects. You've noticed how your shoulders drop after pulling a few weeds, or how a morning among the beans and bees resets your whole day. Now, the science is catching up to what your hands and heart already know.

Nature's Benefits

Access to nature supports mental and physical health from infancy onward, says Seattle-based social scientist Dr. Kathleen Wolf. She consults on urban greening projects nationwide and compiles international studies on the impacts of plants on people on the Green Cities: Good Health website, greenhealth.washington.edu.

“Physical activity is a key health marker across all ages,” Wolf notes, so we enjoy compound benefits, whether walking, climbing or gardening at any age. Nature also restores mental clarity.

“Having nature around you helps you process information better, concentrate better,” she says. “You relax, have more satisfaction with your life and enjoy increased creativity.”

Research has shown that proximity to green space correlates with higher birth weights, stronger childhood immunity and reduced Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms. Among adults, it’s associated with lowering anxiety, blood pressure and symptoms of cognitive disorders, while increasing mobility as we age.