Why People Need Gardens

With wet soil (also known as mud) coating my gloves, rain coat and shovel handle recently, I got to thinking. What is it about these special gardens that we create that really matters? In other words, why do people need these gardens? The biophilia hypothesis claims that our instinctive connection to nature is rooted in our biology, in our very cells. Nature therapy shows that many illnesses are cured more rapidly with healthy exposure to the environment.

With so much time spent indoors and in front of computers, accessible nature is more important than ever. Are our clients who are able to walk outdoors and immediately into their own unique landscapes healthier than those who do not have gardens? Humanity has a real urge to care for other living things. From young children who create bug houses to older adults who tend the growth of their houseplants, we all need nature as much as we need love. Does it make sense to drive far out of the city to get our nature fix on a regular basis?

Or, perhaps, a special space right out your own door where you can observe the change of seasons, breathe in the scents of flowers, and touch the warmth in the stones is more meaningful. Scraping the mud from my boot sole, I looked up and saw the homeowner of this Springfield garden open her back door and smile. Yes, this is why we make gardens – for the people who live there, that they may know nature every day.