Receive Healing Gifts from the Garden
"A Beautiful Garden is a Work of Heart" - Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery
Welcome to my Blog 馃グ
The Garden Welcomes You
TN Sunset through the Trees
May is "Gifts From the Garden" month.
Mental Health Awareness is also acknowledged during the month of May. The United States has observed the importance of mental health during the month of May since the late 40s. I was born in May eons ago. Can you guess my birthday? I was pet sitting this past week for a former colleague of mine. He is like a second father to me. He and his wife really enjoy gardening. This healing garden is filled with herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers. I can hardly wait to get started on my own garden. My backyard is a blank slate, so lots of hard work ahead for me. I'm excited to start creating art again as well. I love working with metal. I hope you enjoy the pictures of this lovely backyard paradise! All images were taken with my cellphone camera.
"The She Shed"
Gardening is Meditation
National Garden Meditation Day was May 3rd. Gardening is very healing for the mind and body. Getting your bare hands in the soil and breathing deeply could be considered a form of meditation. You don't have to sit still with your eyes closed to meditate. It's more of the focus that matters. Getting the mind off of what causes us stress is powerful.
"A number of scientific studies on the effects of gardening, sometimes called horticultural therapy, have reported health outcomes including improved mental health" - Forbes
Meditation and breathwork are the foundation of Empowered Relief created by Beth Darnall, a pain psychologist at Stanford University. This class teaches patients with acute or chronic pain how to incorporate mindfulness into their daily routine. Focusing on the breath or other activities shifts the mind away from both physical and mental pain. When the mind is quiet and pain is decreased, healing will occur more rapidly and efficiently.
"Empowered Relief is an evidence-based, single-session pain class that rapidly equips patients with pain management skills." - Stanford University
Daffodils, Peonies, Shallots and more
Healing Gifts from the Garden
Edible plants possess powerful healing qualities. Not only are the nutrients found in plants essential for good health, but phytochemicals unique to certain species are medicine. I've been studying medicinal plants for almost 30 years. These healing herbs can be grown right in your own backyard or found growing in the wild. My formal education is in Biological and Plant Sciences. I've studied the healing properties of multiple plants. Most phytonutrients have antioxidant and protective properties. There are some flavanoids that even cross the blood brain barrier which may improve memory, concentration and learning.
Most plant species have some form of medicinal properties. All plants are healing whether they are edible or not. Plants clean the air, provide essential oxygen to our ecosystem, and possess beauty for the soul. Cultivation is meditation. Get outside and put your hands in the earth. Grow edible, medicinal and ornamental plants. Reap the gifts of your hard work. Your mind, body and soul will be better for it. Enjoy the rest of the pictures. Peace be with you my friends 馃槆
"The windmill is a universal symbol of life, hope, serenity and resilience" - LSJ News
Brenley and Audey Mae (animals heal us, too!)
Brenley Mae - Labrador Retriever
Audey Mae - Catahoula Leopard
Cloud covered sky from "The She Shed"
Inside the Shed
Helianthus, Sunflower 馃尰
Salvia, Sage - purple flowers
Coreopsis, Tickseed - orange flowers
Rubus, Blackberry - white flowers
Cabbage in Buckets
Potatoes in Multi-colored Containers
Alstroemeria, Lily and Lavandula, Lavender
Solanum, Tomato
Garden Fairy Wind Chimes
Chinese Pagoda Lantern & Salvia, Rosemary
Angelic Scarecrow 馃槆
The Shed at Night 馃槏
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