The Garden of the Soul

If there is one lesson I'm learning this past year, it's that God was incredibly intentional when He created the Earth. From the healing powers of the oceans and sand to the exact tone of a bird's call, His creation holds the power to restore and heal us. I've recently done a deep dive into the therapeutic impact of green spaces or social prescribing, and Science continues to confirm what we've always known deep down, that nature was created with us in mind. Our Father was so intentional, in fact, that even the colors of petals and textures of plants can bring us comfort and reduce anxiety and depression. Trees literally breath with us, talk and share food amongst each other using underground fungal networks. One tree can provide the oxygen needed each year by two humans, helping to create a calm and stress free environment. Chamomile flowers can be used to make a tea that supports a calming response in the nervous system, as well as aiding in digestive comfort. The smell of lavender can soothe anxiety and promote better sleep, and some studies show that patients recovering in hospital rooms amongst flowers typically require less pain medication and have lower overall blood pressure. Each flower, each petal, each stem has a unique quality that God created with us in mind. Feel a cold coming on? Try echinacea. Need to comfort a loved one who lives far away? Flowers improve emotional well being, communicate feelings of love and thoughtfulness, and provide a burst of happiness.

I don't remember much about my childhood, but I have a vivid memory of our neighborhood in Alaska growing up- specifically, the wild flower field behind an empty lot full of trees. Just walking in that field gave you a sense of calm and comfort, and the colors and scents are still imprinted in my mind. Many of us have flowers that we are naturally drawn to, and relay specific messages from loved ones or spark nostalgic memories. Peonies remind me of my front yard in Alaska, pink and full, even when covered in ash from the eruption of Mt. Saint Helen. Fuchsia plants remind me of being younger and turning each bloom into a tiny dancer with a full skirt, twirling them around in the grass. Fireweed evokes memories of late nights wandering in the woods in Alaska, making smore's with my girl scout troop, and watching the sun set entirely too late in the summer. White roses remind me of my husband, who gave me my favorite flowers before our first date, and orchids remind me of Hawaii, where even the air smelled sweet. I have a specific memory of giant daisies, and convincing my poor younger brother to chop them down with our plastic swords in the neighbor's yard, then making him the scapegoat when we the garden was found full of stems without flowers. Every time I see white daisies, I am reminded of how cute and little he was, and how hard the neighbors held back their laughter as he stood at their front door to apologize.

When my son was growing up, we would take nature walks in the park, in our neighborhood, or anywhere we could find space to burn off energy. He would routinely pick up weeds, gasp and declare "it's so beautiful." Something within us will always be in awe of the beauty of nature, causing us to pause long enough to feel that happy nostalgia. So how do we promote these benefits in our busy lives? What can we do to ensure that even though we work in the concrete jungle, that we are taking the time to breath the fresh air from our trees, squish our toes into the grass, and smell and touch the gorgeous florals all around us?

Schools

Teachers and students are experiencing overwhelming challenges to their mental health with the increase in school violence, high stakes testing and pressure to complete advanced courses regardless of skill level. Studies show that students specifically benefit from contact with nature, whether florals or greenery, and show increased attention and lowered anxiety after connection with nature. This contact can even be visual in nature, such as having a window with access to a view of trees or plants (Willms, 2026). In fact, with the surge in biophilia, or the human tendency to actively seek authentic connections with nature and natural elements, schools and organizations are encouraging interior designers and architects to infuse plans with interior plants and open windows with access to nature. In most offices, biophilic workplaces have seen an uptick in productivity, creating the argument that our current classroom layouts, lacking in windows, natural light and plant life could be vastly improved upon. The plants don't necessarily need to be real or alive for their to be benefits, although real plant life will hold increased positive effects. Maya Willms, a middle school educator, took biophilia one step further and invited her students to participate in a living wall filled with plants inside her classroom. She infused the curriculum with opportunities to connect with nature, for example, creating a greenhouse activity as they learned about temperature and light (Willms, 2026). She took her students outside to take soil samples, then encouraged them to research appropriate plant species based on their findings, and created small flower presses to make keepsakes of their hard work after harvesting florals. Willms was able to demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving while providing materials from nature that enhanced wellness and productivity, building a community of learners who progressed in their growth mindset and felt the satisfaction of supporting the growth of plant life!

Some of us are not privileged with the funds or the ability to care for plants within our classrooms, however, any visual of nature can bring a sense of peace. As my students are working independently, I often play soft music and present videos of underwater animals, fields or live zoo feeds on my screen. I have fake plants scattered around my room, some of which are directly on table tops or dripping off walls. The colors of nature fill my room, and even my rugs are covered in visuals of birds and flowers.

Older Adults

Many older adults experience an increase in feelings of isolation, stress, and emotional distance from family and friends as they age. Care facilities and hospitals are beginning to experiment with flower therapy as a means to reduce anxiety, improve sleep patterns and decrease distress. Not only can visuals or smells of flowers be used to enhance mood and emotional health, but the essence of flowers such as impatiens, clematis, Star of Bethlehem, cherry plum, or black rose can be administered orally using a tincture. The results of the tincture use over time included reducing irritation, impatience, sadness and anxiety (Paiva et al, 2026). Another method of providing opportunities for connection to nature includes the simple act of providing indoor plants or floral arrangements to those living in care facilities, especially if separated from loved ones through distance or death. Providing indoor plants to patient rooms, or bringing freshly cut flowers or store bought bouquets to widows or those in hospice care can bring much needed hope and joy to older adults. Providing older adults with ample time to observe nature outside, and installing green spaces in quiet areas can enhance quality of life for those who spend the majority of their time indoors and alone. Horticulture therapy and social gardening has even greater benefits for older adults who experience symptoms of dementia, and allows them a social space that helps retrain memories through the use of caring for and cooking with fruits and vegetables. Caretakers such as PHC nurses also demonstrated a decrease in stress when given access to natural elements such as flowers, making it even more important to infuse the interiors of organizations with nature!

Meral Cetin and Hacer Ugur describe the benefits of nature and creativity combined as the elderly populations in nursing homes are positively impacted by flower printing; even without direct access to the outdoors, implementing activities that remind us of nature or incorporate its elements can bring social, emotional, physical, and mental benefits. The participants from the nursing home were given a self-assessment on their levels of anxiety before and after the activity of flower printing. They found that the groups that actively participated in flower printing experienced a tremendous decrease in anxiety after the sessions, and that their overall levels of stress dropped with each session (Cetin & Ugur, 2024). The benefits of nature are so immense that even activities inside with some natural elements can enhance the well being of the participants!

Urban Dwellers

Various researchers have found immense benefits of living in an environment with grassy landscapes, access to large trees, and consistent visuals of other natural elements such as flowers or blue spaces. Time spent in nature naturally lowers anxiety, promotes nervous system regulation, and prevents increased depressive symptoms. So how do we provide access to nature for a population that lives in an increasingly man made environment? Those who work and live in inner cities or urban areas miss out on the daily benefits of connectedness with nature- so how do we provide mental health equity across the country when we know that the majority of our population lives under LED lights without access to nature? Scientists have been studying methods of bringing nature to urban areas through the use of community gardens, urban meadows, and interior options such as hydroponic gardens. The urban environment can be described as concrete deserts, void of green spaces for community gatherings and mental health retreats. Scientists acknowledge that healing from stress occurs at a faster rate when we're exposed to fresh air and greenery, putting those in concrete deserts at a distinct disadvantage in an already increasingly stressful environment. Small parks and green spaces are great, but scientists are now exploring the option of urban meadows, where native species of plants grow naturally to mimic exposure to authentic green spaces in the country. Green spaces have historically reduced stress, but wild urban meadows have proven to provide increased positive emotions and feelings (Simonienko et al, 2025)! Imagine leaving work in the city, walking down the busy street, turning the corner and being greeted by natural wildflowers and trees. I can imagine that the instinctual response would be to let out a sigh and finally unclench our jaws and muscles from the stress of the day. Imagine the possibility of sitting in these meadows with friends, family, or even strangers, surrounded by fragrant flowers and soft grass. I felt this way many times after leaving elementary school, getting off the bus, throwing my backpack inside and heading to the wildflower fields in my neighborhood, singing songs from Pocahontas and running my hands over the soft petals.

Every Day Life

There are several ways we can connect with nature on a daily basis no matter our circumstances. If you love the smell and look of fresh herbs, consider a hydroponic garden filled with basil, mint, and parsley. If you have a balcony, you may plant a small garden box and sit on your porch in the evening when the weather is nice, admiring the saturated colors of the flowers. If you are in a relationship, stop often and bring home flowers for your loved ones. My husband does this often, especially when he senses a rise in my stress levels during the week or right before a school break. When I was younger, my Grandaddy used to send me pink roses each year for my birthday, and I find myself stopping in the grocery store to smell and admire them, allowing that happy memory to surface and fill me gratitude. If you are able to grow a small vegetable garden in your space, fill it with varieties that remind you of your childhood or other happy circumstances. My Grandaddy used to grow tomatoes so delicious that we would slice them, sprinkle salt on them and eat them in tiny bites like the delicacy that they were. My parents grew tomatoes as well in our backyard, and when I was going through my divorce, I would often see the tiny form of my son, picking cherry tomatoes, then turning with his cheeks full as he got caught. Tomatoes and basil will always remind me of the summer I spent after college living with my mom and we ate ungodly amounts of caprese salad. When I see blackberries at the store, I think of the times I drove past my old house in Houston and parents and children had pulled over the to the side of the golf course to this one specific spot where wild blackberries grew. Bluebonnets remind me of sitting with my chubby little baby boy when he was almost one year old, posing him in the bluebonnets and remarking how during that year his eyes were an amazing color of sapphire blue. Giving ourselves access to nature, even in small increments or in temporary status allows us to experience positive emotions, release stress, and show resilience through anxious thoughts and circumstances. Next time you feel depleted, go to the store (or convince your loved ones to) and pick up a large bunch of sunflowers and place them in your house where you will see them often. Buy your favorite fresh herbs and cook with them that evening, leaving the excess in a cup of water and smelling the fragrance as you walk around the kitchen. Check your mail without your shoes and stop for a few minutes and wiggle your toes in the grass.

God has created a bounty of nature for you to enjoy, explore and utilize. With each bloom of a flower, you have new evidence of His love and provision. Nature is begging to be admired, climbing, reaching and sparkling to catch your eye and create a pause in your otherwise stressful day. So sit in the meadow, take off your socks, and rest awhile.

References:

Paiva, K., Galvao, P., Brito, O., Macedo, T., Silva, J., Monteiro, A., Barros, L., Marquez, N. (2026). Effectiveness of Flower Therapy in Reducing Anxiety in Older Adults. Revista Cuidarte 2026; 17(1). http://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.4887

Simonienko, K., Jermakowicz, E., Piotr, S., Wrobel, K., Suprunowicz, U., Cwalina, U., Kostro-Ambroziak, A. (2025). The Impact of Urban Flower Meadows on the Well-Being of City Dwellers Provides Hints for Planning Biophilic Green Spaces. Scientific Reports 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16420-8

Willms, Maya. (May 2026). A Year of Plants: Lessons From a Mixed-Grade Junior High Class. Mental Health Outside. Connections, v43(1), pp 13-19.