Alas, poor garden I knew him. Like Yorick, our gardens come to the same end. Others may fret about the winter of our discontent, but gardeners are filled with positive visions of what the future holds.
Gardeners turn their horticultural attention to house plants as the seasons change. Windows shut till spring cause home air to become stale. To freshen air in your home, add house plants. Homes today are built much tighter, which is good for energy saving. On the other hand, newer homes are apt to trap toxic gases from construction and synthetic materials, mold, and cleaning fluids.
We are all more sedentary in the chilly winter, spending most of our time indoors sealed into our very own personally crafted toxic traps known as “sick building syndrome.” Longtime exposure to these chemicals can cause health problems. To solve many of these problems, simply add plants to purify the air.
They are beautiful to look at as they brighten a dreary den on a dull wintry day. Most homes are drier than a desert. House plants will add moisture needed by your skin and nasal passages. Also, plants release phytochemicals that suppress mold spores and bacteria found in the air. House plants will aid in healthier living.
Areca palm is tops at removing toxins from indoor air. It emits substantial amounts of water vapor — a boon in locations with dry air. Rubber plant, Dracaena, Boston fern, and Spathephyllum are all good choices and easy to grow.
Lavender is probably the most well-known of all plants when it comes to inducing sleep and reducing anxiety levels. NASA research backs up these claims, with lavender scents shown to slow down heart rate and lower blood pressure and levels of stress.
Snake Plant is one of the most highly recommended plants for improving indoor air quality. What’s great about this plant is that it emits oxygen at nighttime while simultaneously taking in carbon dioxide — something we naturally produce when breathing. All this leads to a purer air quality and a better night’s sleep.
Before we bid adieu to the outdoor garden, remember to prune and rake. Consider this a Pre-Thanksgiving preemptive attempt at tummy trim, making way for all of those drop-dead calorie-rich side dishes. If it is chilly out, then prune plants that are in the sun. Follow the warming rays around your home as you prune. Prune hedges, evergreens, and summer blooming plants. Leaves continue to fall. Rake but do not blow them as a great way to burn calories. So what if a few leaves are left behind on the lawn or the driveway is not devoid of every last speck of Mother Nature. You may have avoided pruning roses, as many of them keep blooming. Just do it.
WARNING: Keep your gardener with power trimmers far away from foundation plants, especially hydrangea, forsythia, azalea, and lilac. These plants set their buds on old growth. Only prune out old stems, dead branches, or runaway growth.
After the Chrysanthemums fade away, the garden will be bare of color. Ornamental cabbage and Kale are the answer to dressing up your home outside before Thanksgiving. Look at the bold and pleasing ornamental cabbage at Rye Town Park entrances, planted by Friends of Rye Town Park. They are best planted in large groupings as done at The Park — why not make a tax-deductible donation to Friends so they can continue their great work. Fill planters or beds with cabbages and kales on the way to your front door, and at your front door. Top dress the soil between plants with evergreen branches for a festive look.
Completing your Pre-Thanksgiving work allows you to tighten your belt a notch or two. You made room for the turkey challenge with no regrets. Silently, you say to yourself, bring on double portions!