Life in the time of Coronavirus
As I gaze outside my home, keeping myself safe and the rest of the world safe, I see two butterflies chasing each other, a hummingbird zipping by and a rabbit nibbling on the young shoots of my flowers! It seems unfair that Spring is bursting forth in all it's kaleidoscope of color, frisky wildlife, blossom fragrance and for the most part, we have to remain indoors. What to do to keep ourselves healthy both physically and mentally?
Embrace Your Garden
First thing I would recommend is if you have a garden, get into it!
So much is growing now and that includes weeds! Pulling weeds is great exercise and gives a wonderful sense of control when everything seems out of control.
Restoring order in your own little domain, whether it is a large garden, a small patio or even on your balcony creates a great sense of well being.
Once weeds are cleared out, you can step back and think creatively about changes you would like to make to freshen things up. Take the time to step indoors and peruse garden company catalogues online, such as this one. If you love roses (and the scent of fragrant roses always lifts the spirit), I highly recommend HeirloomRoses.com.
Perusing sources for inspiration is a fun and enjoyable way to get yourself into a creative mindset and will give you a focus beyond the news cycle.
Meanwhile, search your home or garden for garden tools that need cleaning, boxes of plant feed that can be sprinkled about, giving the flowers and shrubs a nice boost after winter. If you feel confident, look around for plants that could use dividing and replanting. So many people leave their plants to grow too large when what really makes them thrive is dividing them up! Give extra clumps you don't need to neighbors whom you may inspire to get into the garden too! Leave them on the doorstep and walk away with that happy feeling that just giving inspires.
In this time of sickness and uncertainty, create a tranquility garden, one which has a place to sit and listen to a small (or large) water feature.
Fill it with shrubs and flowers that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and songbirds. It takes a little time but they will find you!
No garden or outdoor space? Enjoy this virtual garden tour.
Medicinal Herbs To Boost Your Immune System
There are many herbs that nourish you and plants that you can grow that are super immune boosters. One AMAZING tree that can be put into the ground or grown in a container, is the Moringa tree. I use the powder from the Moringa tree (from Kuli Kuli) which can be bought on their website or from local health food stores. Blended into my smoothie every morning, it is a powerhouse of nutrients! It is really that good, and you can even eat the leaves right off the tree! I have ordered the tree for my garden from here.
An ancient herb that I used to grow in my garden in England that is very valuable in protecting and healing the respiratory system, which is vulnerable to this virus, is Hyssop. In additional to its medicinal properties, it has lovely purple spire flowers that are attractive to bees and butterflies. Please read. This is an important herb to add to your diet in the time of Coronavirus.
So while we are waiting this out, consider the benefits of nurturing your garden (it will nurture you) and adding a variety of plants to it that have health-giving and healing attributes, of which the two I have mentioned are well worth obtaining.
May we all stay as healthy as can be during this anxious time, exercise, meditate, nurture yourself, your family and make your garden a place to restore your well being.
Lisa McKean,
Founder
MalibuFountains.com