I probably don’t have to tell you that nature is good for you. That plants are good for you. That soil is good for you. That planting plants in soil is good for you. It’s a lesson that you learned a long time ago. You know that when you’re feeling anxious, stressed, angry, or overwhelmed, just a few minutes in the garden can give you a fresh perspective.

In the book The Nature Fix by Florence Williams, you’ll find the science to back up what you already know. I was lucky enough to see her present her book and its results at a recent garden center conference. What she shared is remarkable. In many of the studies she references (and participated in), just a little time in nature leads to measurable physiological changes in the human body, including reduced heart rate and blood-pressure.

The biggest finding is that you don’t have to be in nature full-time to reap the benefits. While spending a week in the mountains or at the beach would be beneficial, she realized that we can’t all do that all of the time (but we can dream, right?). And that became the reason for the title The Nature Fix. Little micro-doses of nature are enough. Simply being in the presence of a plant is enough to make us calmer, more rational, and a little healthier. In the end, she found that 20 minutes a day was a sweet spot for balancing nature with life. If you can find 20 minutes a day to be in nature, to be with a plant, to walk in a garden, that’s all you need to leverage the benefits of nature.

You probably knew that in your gut already. A little time in the garden goes a long way toward literally grounding us and making us feel like everything is going to be OK. The last 18 months prove that for sure. Your garden has been and will continue to be there for you to get your daily dose of nature.

We hope you’ll join us to get your nature fix at the nursery this weekend. Pumpkins are here and the Pumpkin Wall is ready for this year’s family picture. And because sometimes you can’t get outside, this Saturday, the gardening seminar is about caring for houseplants. Come see how easy it is to bring nature indoors. Whether it is outside in the garden or inside with your favorite houseplants, set yourself up for 20 minutes in nature each day and we know that you’ll be happier, healthier, and ready to take on the world.