The recent long awaited good weather in the U.K. has had everyone flocking outside to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.
It will hopefully help to chase away the lingering viruses which have plagued everyone over the winter, and re energize us for the summer months.
Being out of doors has so many benefits.
It increases our physical activity for both adults and children alike, by breathing in extra oxygen, moving around and playing outside.
The availability of a garden also has such a positive effect on our mental outlook, as flowers and shrubs are not only delightful to look at, but have wonderful fragrances and colours which calm the mind and create a feeling of peace and well being.
Many people are discovering the joy and benefits of growing their own vegetables which taste delicious and are extremely cost effective, and also bring about a sense of satisfaction having nurtured and cared for them.
For those lucky enough to have a garden, then many hours can be spent carrying out maintenance, planting seeds, checking over and adding to the benefits which a garden can bring.
Gardens can vary in size from huge areas of grass and shrubs, to tiny little patio areas.
Even if living in a multi storey building, ingenious ways can be found to make space, perhaps around a balcony or window, to have a few flowering plants, and perhaps even a few vegetables.
There is now a huge variety of indoor plants available, which can enhance interior spaces inexpensively, so no one need miss out.
To really appreciate gardening, it is important to take time to observe the whole process.
I purchased some packets of nasturtium seeds and planted them a few weeks ago.
On opening the packet, there was nothing exciting to see. A collection of rather drab coloured dry rounded seeds which made it difficult to imagine that they would ever be like the vibrant coloured flowers and foliage shown on the packet.
However, once planted as per instructions, and the soil kept moist with water, a miracle started to take place.
Bit by bit over the next few weeks, tiny shoots of green started to peek through the ground.
They got bigger by the day, and very quickly the distinctive shape of the nasturtium leaves became visible.
With plenty of light and regular watering, the leaves became larger, and finally some buds will appear which will ultimately result in the brightly coloured flowers which will match those on the seed packet.
This miracle can be obtained in a fairly small container either outside or inside, making it ideal to put beside a window or source where the plants can enjoy light and sunshine.
Plants and flowers can have such a benefit to our well being, particularly mental health.
They strip things down to basics.
In order for seeds and plants to grow, all that is required is healthy soil which provides the nutrients, and water which supplies hydration. Add some light and time, and without doing anything else a healthy plant emerges.
There are some exceptions of course. Some plants are extremely vulnerable and do not thrive if conditions are not right. In order for them to flourish, they may require special attention to detail, such as position, temperature and additional feeding.
Plants and shrubs are subject to disease which may come from an infected plant, or may be air or water borne.
These are the things that one should be aware of, regardless of the size or site of a garden.
It is really the same recipe which humans use to look after themselves.
We all have different backgrounds and places to live, but start out life with many similarities.
Given the basics of adequate nourishment and an acceptable environment, we can grow into individuals with good physical and mental health.
It is much more difficult to do if the basics of life are not in place.
It is also not easy if the individual finds it difficult to thrive in a specific environment which does not suit them.
Increasingly, it seems that adults and children alike are falling into this category, through stress from outside forces resulting in anxiety, often followed by depression. This is poor mental health and prevents the individual from reaching their full potential.
What can be done to deal with this or prevent it happening?
Once again, Mother Nature has the answer if we look around.
Identifying the cause of stress is key.
If it can be removed then do so.
Help and support may be needed along the way, such as a more suitable environment, a more nourishing way of life and time to adjust and benefit from the changes.
It seems such a simple solution, but it does take courage to give up some of the things which society has convinced us we must have, and to live life at a frenetic pace.
Meanwhile, make the most of your garden or your availability to access plants and flowers.
A walk in a park, in woodlands, by the coast or anywhere that you will find growing plants and trees will have a therapeutic effect.
If all else fails and outside not an option, wonderful videos can be found on YouTube which can be surprisingly effective.
The annual televised Chelsea Flower Show is a great example which shows just how popular gardens have become.
It also highlights the increasing importance which is being paid to the connection between gardens and mental health.
Of course it`s not all about plants and shrubs.
Daylight, sunshine, soil and rain are needed to help the plants to grow.
We must not forget the input from birds and little insects which are so necessary to keep everything balanced in the natural world.
They need the gardens to thrive and the gardens need them to flourish.
Plants depend on bees to transfer pollen as without it, many plants would not reproduce.
Birds need hedges and trees to build nests, as without them, the birds would not multiply.
Countless little insects keep the ground clean and help keep the eco system healthy, so think twice before swiping away a bee, or stamping on an insect.
They are all needed to keep our planet beautiful as well as producing food, and we could certainly be doing with as much beauty, peace and tranquillity as possible in our rather troubled world today.
