Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”, was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has been a cornerstone of preventative health care in Japanese medicine ever since. It simply means “being with trees” for the purpose of taking in the forest atmosphere.

Since the appreciation of nature has long been a national pastime in Japan, the Japanese didn’t take much persuasion that “forest bathing” was a good idea. Nevertheless, Japan spent about $4 million dollars studying the physiological and psychological effects of forest bathing.

Join us next time as we learn what the Japanese discovered.
Contributed by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& “being with trees” hobbyist)

Based on an article by Ephrat Livini: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2019/11/japanese-art-principle-failure-success-kintsugi/

August thunderstorms are masterpieces of bluster and bombardment.
~Hal Borland (American writer, journalist and naturalist; 1900 – 1978)

Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& grateful for the grandeur of a summer storm)

“The long, languorous days of August have cast their spell over the earth. Little by little, nature yields to the seductive influence and sinks into her summer sleep. Lazily-languid like southern beauties, the hours follow each other in slow succession.”
~Sister Mary Blanche (Elizabeth King, 1852), “A Summer Siesta”

August is usually HOT! We can help by providing shade and water options. Keep your COOL and give us a call: 717-653-1273!

Contributed by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife

This year, rain seems to have been a constant companion. While I like sunshine as much as anybody (maybe more!), I am coming to terms with the amount of rainy days we’ve had this year–especially when I see how our garden plants are thriving!

And I have not let the rain hinder me from getting outside for my daily walks. In fact, I am actually glad for rainy-day walks. Rain slows me down to pay attention to my footing so that I don’t slip on slick grass or shiny stepping stones and in slowing down, I look around more. You wouldn’t believe the beautiful displays I’ve seen–of raindrops on the myriad varieties of leaves in our garden!

Take a look at the photos I’m including in this post to see what I mean! These are a few of my favorite things . . . .!

Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& rain-drop beauty collector!)

Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful World,
With the wonderful water round you curled,
And the wonderful grass upon your breast-
World, you are beautifully dressed

The wonderful air is over me,
And the wonderful wind is shaking the tree,
It walks on the water, and whirls the mills,
And talks to itself on the tops of the hills.

You friendly Earth! how far do you go,
With the wheat-fields that nod and the rivers that flow,
With cities and gardens, and cliffs, and isles,
And people upon you for thousands of miles?

Ah, you are so great, and I am so small,
I tremble to think of you, World, at all;
And yet, when I said my prayers to-day,
A whisper inside me seemed to say,
“You are more than the Earth, though you are such a dot:
You can love and think, and the Earth cannot!”

~ William Brighty Rands (English writer and poet; 1823 – 1882)

Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& awestruck Creation-gazer)