Yesterday, I took my own prescription and did some ‘Garden Bathing’ *. It’s an amazing way to reduce the stress of the corona-virus home stays. Inject a little wonder in our lives.
Just before the spring snowstorm I meandered to my back garden. Two flower treats were ready for discovery.
Just emerging are a burgundy colored Hellebore (Helleborus ‘Ruby Wine’) and blue Russian snowdrops (Puschkinia libanotic).
Ruby Wine Hellebore goes about 22′ tall and about a 24″ spread. It likes part shade. Right now its just beginning most years there is a cluster of flowers about a foot wide. Indeed if you look closely you’ll see tiny pink buds. When the ground drys around it, I’ll pick out the oak leaves by hand. (Walking on wet soil should be avoided as your feet compact the soil in a way that will make it hard for plants to grow).
The blue Russian Snowdrops are just beginning to emerge. I planted a handful of the very tiny bulbs one fall many years ago. Since then they’ve spread several feet in each direction.
I realize these don’t look like much just now, but to starved gardener eyes they are a delight and the first bursts.
Bye the way, deer don’t particularly like either of these early spring delights.
Garden Bathing is the term I’ve coined as a take-off on the Japanese concept of ‘Forest Bathing’. “Forest bathing” is taking time to unwind and connect with nature to improve your health. Simply put: Forest bathing is retreating to nature to immerse in the forest atmosphere. The practice originated in Japan in the late 1980’s and was coined by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as “Shinrin-yoku,” which roughly translated means “forest bathing.””
Have fun looking for your own spring treasures. Or wander and look at your neighbor’s street gardens, parks, wherever you can “Garden Bathe”.
Be well, healthy, and happy.
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