A Posting by the HillBilly Gardner...

This is the posting  he was replying to but the thread had so much other stuff on it I thought it deserved a better format!

"PLANTS MAKE US HAPPIER"

If we fill our time taking care of plants we can get rid of stress, it is a scientifically proved thing. Taking care of our green friends (the ones with leaves not Martians!) we will discover new hidden sides of our personality and will get to know better how to love and care for others, firstly because a plant that we won’t care for will die for sure.

Accepting a plant we are assuming a new responsibility, we are adopting a breathing being. This way, we learn just what it means to pay attention to those around you.

We have to concentrate over needs that are exterior to our ego. We become aware of the needs of another being: we know how much water the plant needs, how much light it gets, the intervals it needs to receive water again, and slowly we will transfer these cares and abilities in our social relations.

We become more and more aware of others. Visual contact with a beautiful plant makes us realize our own beauty.

Studies show more and more that taking care of plants can be the most efficient method to improve the physical and emotional general condition. They have a serene effect, they can reduce stress and relax muscles and therefore improve the mood people taking care of them are in.

Different studies have demonstrated that the existence of plants reduce mental exhaustion.

When we are overwhelmed with work, we just have to look up for a couple of minutes to a plant and we’ll instantly feel more relaxed. In conclusion, plants fascinate and attract people, they break boredom and monotony generated by forced attention.

The oxygen generated by plants creates a feeling of mental agility.

Some big plants placed on the right spot will help us insolate ourselves from annoying surrounding noises. The technique is the same as the one of hanging paintings in an empty room to minimize the echo effects. The thick leaves will absorb a part of the noises, including the sound of the phone, Xerox, printer or coffee maker, making these sounds a little bit friendlier.

Thanks to Mike at Trucker6RoadClicks for having this wonderful free article :: for more articles and great Banner and Surfing and Classifieds and more :: just go to http://www.Trucker6RoadClicks.com/?refid=655

Hi Beth and Hillbilly gardener,

Thanks for that. Good information.

A number of years ago I had to consult with a specialist consultant about severe stress in my life.

I had left one industry and had faced a period of time starting a business without capital.

I had started doing garden work for friends and had developed a small list of clients.

My doctor told me that with the stress and the high blood pressure I should be dead but that the physical and relaxing nature of my new work had saved my life.

I remembered this and have continued in that area of work for over 20 years.

Roger

Hello Beth,

           What a great article. I have always felt that people under estimate the benefits of gardening, for many years.

 My grandfather is a keen gardener. He is now 94 and he puts his secret down to being in the garden at 05.00 every day. I can remember this happening all through my younger years.

I have now followed in his footsteps, and can honestly say, that the therapeutic benefits of gardening are overwhelming. As you already know, i work full time as a firefighter here in the West Midlands. Its the kind of job that is action packed and extremely diverse. However, we as professionals, have to accept that it isn't always going to end in success.

When i have just worked a 15 hour night shift, and these have been extremely busy lately, what with all the flooding here in the UK. The first thing i do when i get home, is pull up a chair in the back garden and unwind.

 The garden is one of those places where you can just "switch off" the mind and totally relax.

Dealing with fatalities on a regular basis, has bizarre effects on the mind. Switching off is a must for most of us. We have to learn to occupy our minds with nice thoughts, instead of the horror they are filled with the majority of the time. The garden is the perfect place for me to keep busy and pre-occupy myself.

My garden has never been as nice, since i became a firefighter. And the wife totally agrees with me.

ps. She was 30 yesterday, and i have a slight headache this morning.

As you know already Beth, i have even started my own gardening website, and my passion is now spilling all over the pages of my site. Even Google have voted my site in the Top 100 Gardening sites already.

If you want to get some more ideas for your garden, go and take a look. I have tried to make it as resourceful as i can, and i have even opened a shop just for the Americans amongst us, aswell as one for my lot here in the UK.

The site is called "Gardening Paradise" found at www.levsta.com

Stick a pin in my world map so i can see where you are from geographically, and that goes to all readers of this post. If you own your own site aswell, please feel free to place your link on my link pages. I want to look after our members here at Adland Pro.

Sorry i havent been very active in the forums lately. As i have already said, i have been somewhat rushed off my feet at work, and trying to get the site filled has been extremely pre-occupying. Anyway i'm back now and the rains have stopped (fingers crossed).

Take Care Beth, and remember, although i am not posting often at the moment, i still read every ost that is made. So keep up the good work and i will catch up with you all soon.

Kindest of kind regards

Richard Donlevy (dick6712) - my roll number at work