 We live in such a one-and-done disposable culture that even living plants have become disposable items. But, did you know that with proper care blooming plants will not only bloom again, but they will also bloom even more profusely as they age? By now, many people who purchased amaryllis bulbs and plants for the holiday season may find the flowers at the end of their bloom cycle. Here are some easy tips to help nurture them until next year so you can enjoy their flower show again!
Caring for plants that have completed their bloom cycle is another way to connect with our natural world. With a little patience, orchids, amaryllis, African violets, and many other plants can become part of the family. Here are some examples of my amaryllis bulb collection, some of which I have had for many years. Do you have a blooming plant that you would like to share? Post a picture on social media and tag @TheNatureNurse so I can share it. Have questions or comments? Please post those in the comment section below. Want to learn more about how you can enhance your relationship with our natural surroundings to optimize your whole being and become a more sustainable citizen? Sign up our seasonal newsletter on the homepage: www.TheNatureNurse.com.
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 January is just around the corner and we all know what that means-time to decide on a New Year’s Resolution. Millions will flock to join a gym, enroll in a weight loss program, pledge to eat more vegetables, and have other health-related changes they want to make as they strive to be healthier. What if I told you there is one resolution that will help you enhance your whole being? Nature Connection. Yup, nature is the central pillar of health that not only impacts our holistic health, but the health of our planet. Setting an intention to connect deeper with our natural world will result in an astonishing number of benefits. What exactly does connecting with nature mean? It can be as simple as taking time to just go outside every day. On average Americans spend nearly 90% of their time indoors. Going outdoors and simply breathing in some fresh air, or gazing at the clouds passing by above you, can promote calmness, elevate joy, improve our ability to concentrate, help us sleep better, and combat loneliness, just to name a few benefits. You may be saying to yourself, wow that is awesome! Or perhaps you are more of a doubter and saying, it can’t do all that. The only way to know for sure is to try it and see if it works for you. This is why The Nature Nurse™, PLLC has created self-guided online programs to facilitate your deepening relationship with Mother Nature. My company also is now hosting in-person nature attunement retreats for women. These nature connection programs will teach you the latest research supporting that nature connection is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. You’ll learn how to create a sustainable nature connection practice, as well as tips and resources to make this a New Year’s resolution you will be adhering to all year. Best of all, you will have the opportunity to experience for yourself a wide variety of ways to attune to nature so that you can decide for yourself which evidence-based practices work best for you. Ready to get started? Check out various online programs and the upcoming Women’s Vitamin Sea Retreat now. You may find that you don’t want to wait until 2023 to get started! Be sure to subscribe to the seasonal e-newsletter sent out by The Nature Nurse™, PLLC to learn more about ways to optimize your whole being with nature. Go to www.TheNatureNurse.com and enter your email at the bottom of the homepage.   This blog is intended as general information only, and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with your licensed healthcare professionals regarding your health. The Nature Nurse™, PLLC disclaims any liability directly or indirectly from use of this website or social media. Full terms of use statement may be found here: LINK Looking for a low-cost, low-barrier-to-entry exercise that can improve your whole self? Have you tried walking? Yes, you know, putting one step in front of the other repetitively. If this sounds too simple, think again!
A growing number of studies are touting the overall benefits to our minds and bodies when we engage in the simple practice of walking. Just how much do we need to walk? How can we stay motivated to walk? All of these answers are in the Morning Nature Walk Program and now is the perfect time to get started. As the days grow cooler, it is more pleasant to get outdoors for a walk. A recent study done by the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston found that women who walked 4,400 steps each day had a 41% lower death rate than women who took 2,700 steps per day. And the holistic health benefits continue to grow the more we walk and are dependent on where we walk. When you enroll in the self-guided, online Morning Nature Walk Program, you will learn a multitude of reasons why this simple practice is one you want to include in your healthy lifestyle toolkit. Are you ready to lace up your sneakers or favorite walking boots and get going to look better, feel better, experience more joy, and potentially improve your social life? Yes, all of these are just some of the amazing benefits that can be attained when we maintain a regular walking practice. In the Morning Nature Walk Program, you will learn how much walking is considered best, where to walk, and why. You will receive several tips, resources, and information on studies supporting a regular nature walking practice. If you have a comfortable pair of walking shoes, you have what you need to get started tomorrow morning! Assuming, of course, that you have been medically cleared to exercise. Our health is our greatest asset. Invest in yourself now and consider inviting a friend to join you. Learn more: Morning Nature Walk Program For a limited time you can get 20% off by using the code: TWENTY in the checkout. It’s October, the season of all things pumpkin; pumpkin spice, pumpkin décor, and pumpkin pie. Let’s take a look at three ways you may want to consider amplifying the joy of pumpkins this season. Pumpkin carving was introduced in America by Irish Immigrants. According to Irish folklore, the Irish began carving demonic faces in turnips to scare away a soul named Jack. It was believed that Jack was caught between heaven and earth when he died because he had played a number of tricks on the devil during his lifetime. When the Irish arrived in America, they carved pumpkins instead as they were more readily available. Hence came the name Jack-o’-lantern. Pumpkin carving is a tradition many of us have been enjoying since we were kids. Cutting out a top to open the big orange gourd, sticking your hand into it and letting your fingers intertwine with the gooey fiber inside dotted with seeds then putting them on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet, seasoning the seeds to make pumpkin seed snacks has long been a tradition enjoyed and passed on. This wholesome tradition is a simple, basic way to celebrate Halloween. Just add a candle on Halloween night to allow it to face and you’re done. Today there are tools to make more ornate creations, but nothing is more heartwarming to see than a pumpkin carved from a child’s imagination.
Gathering together and carving pumpkins can be fun too. The Town of Cary in North Carolina encourages kids to bring their pumpkins to participate in the annual Pumpkin Flotilla. Each pumpkin is placed on a wooden board, tied to a string of other boards. A kayaker then paddles the line of floating pumpkins, all lit up, along the shore of the local lake lined with hundreds of onlookers.    Creating an event where pumpkins can be exhibited can be a great event to get people outdoors to enjoy the cold, crisp air. Enhance it by serving hot chocolate or spiced apple cinnamon tea. It can also be a way to establish a fundraiser for schools, parks, nature conservancies, and other programs in need. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze in New York is a big hit every year and helps support the programs offered by The Historic Hudson Valley.
Regardless of how you decide to celebrate pumpkins this year, please consider composting your pumpkin after Halloween. Better yet, donate it to a local farm, zoo, or animal rescue facility. Animals love pumpkins! If you carve a pumpkin or host a pumpkin event, be sure to tag us on social media @TheNatureNurse so we can share. Happy Halloween! |
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