Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Bringing outdoors in
We’re headed to the shortest day of the year… That means we’re living in darkness with mostly just the light of a computer/mobile device screen! Not the healthiest of environments for our bodies OR our psyche! So, bringing outdoors IS IN.
According to Garden Trends, there has been a huge jump in houseplant purchases. Millenials are spurring on the trend via social media. One garden research outlet calls them Plant Parents! The point being that they are looking for wellness and plants (NATURE) offers that.
In concrete jungles, more and more, apartment dwellers are seeking nature inside with plants that offer fresh air as their leaves absorb pollutants. They’re demanding green roofs and requiring options for space for their own small gardens.
Another term I ran across in some garden trend sites was Biophilic design. Basically, it means bringing in plants, natural materials and warm lights which can reduce stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, improve our well-being and expedite healing. Experts continue to work on how best to bring nature into our built environment. Some of those designs can be seen along highways where sound walls have become showcases for living walls of plants.
The video below explains how a living wall works and initiatives in Mexico City. I’ve seen a few of these walls there and they’re beautiful!
Plants, of course, top the list but natural light is huge too. According to a study from Harvard, blue wavelengths are beneficial during day because they boost attention, reaction times, and mood but are disruptive at night. And the proliferation of electronics with screens, as well as energy-efficient lighting, our exposure is prolific.
The incandescent lighting of old, with it’s yellow glow, is a warm light and actually better for us in the evening. The cold light messes with our circadian rhythms and disrupt sleep patterns.
Ahhhhh…..
