Cultivating More Than Just Flowers

May 29, 2025

White and pink wildflowers — Life Matters Newsletter

Welcome to our new subscribers… thank you for being here!

Cultivate the acquaintance of Mother Nature. She may enrich you. ~Minna Thomas Antrim

Well, last week came and went, and I didn’t post as planned (heck, this week is almost half over, too!) I apologize, but things got quite busy. An extra day of babysitting and additional work for the animal charity I volunteer with, and BOOM…the week was gone!

I’m sending an update on my pollinator garden, pictured below. I have all the flowers planted and am working on a few final touches.

I placed some cute stepping stones in a semicircle around the birdbath. The one in front reads, “Mimi’s Garden,” and lists the name of each grandchild - a lovely gift from my daughter-in-law.

A solar-powered birdbath pump creates a charming little fountain. Apparently, our feathered friends are attracted to moving water, which provides a spot for them to drink and bathe, plus it looks nice too!

A metal chair, in the style of an old-fashioned soda shop, is waiting for a coat of paint. I’m going with a bright teal blue color that will stand out among the reds, yellows, oranges, pinks, and purples of the flowers. This shade of blue will match a miniature gazing ball that was on sale at the garden store.

More ideas are swirling in my head, so we’ll see what develops…

Spending time outside on this project is helping me cultivate better habits while finding an escape from the things that concern me, such as my country's slide down the slippery slope of authoritarianism. While I continue to write postcards to voters and plan to participate in upcoming rallies, it weighs heavily on my mind and heart.

Will these postcards, currently targeting a mayoral election in Texas (and all the upcoming local elections around the country), convince voters to fulfill their civic duty? Does holding rallies get the message out to those who aren’t paying attention?

And after everything that’s occurred, who the hell isn’t paying attention?

I understand being caught up in work, raising young families, and dealing with all the other challenges in life. I was there once. And honestly, I didn’t tune in to the news or politics much. A lot went on in the world during those years: the end of the Cold War, the election of Nelson Mandela, the Persian Gulf and Yugoslav wars, genocide in Rwanda and Bosnia, the Oklahoma City bombing, the assassination of Gandhi, and the rise of the Internet, to name a few.

I remember being a young adult (before marriage and children) when AIDS emerged as a deadly epidemic, the Reagan Revolution occurred, the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe began, Chernobyl and the Challenger Disaster happened, and (of course) more wars.

At the time, I was momentarily shocked by these events, but didn’t appreciate that each of them would have long-lasting and far-reaching effects. Some would be on people far away, and others directly on me. I was consumed with my own life in a small town, naive in the belief that the absolute worst of these things wouldn’t touch me.

But ignorance is bliss. Eventually, you “grow up” and discover that no one is exempt from the really bad stuff.

And here we are.

Searching for ways to stay informed and resist the growing threat of tyranny without becoming obsessed, preoccupied to the exclusion of enjoying all that life has to offer.

Smiling and laughing at the appropriate times, but now with a darkness around the edges of those moments. It stays mainly in the periphery of normal day-to-day living, but it’s always there.

And we’re finally paying attention.

Well, at least some of us are, and terrified, wondering if we’re too late?

Anyway, some of the positive things that have resulted from spending time in nature, even if it’s only in my backyard:

Less Screen Time

Limiting time on the computer can:

Improve sleep
Reduce stress and anxiety
Enhance focus
Improve eye health

Blue light is a specific part of the visible light spectrum with shorter wavelengths and higher energy than other colors. It can suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep, leading to difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Reducing exposure to stressors like social media comparisons and news can lead to decreased anxiety.

Limiting screen time can improve attention span and enhance the ability to concentrate on tasks.

Alleviate eye strain and discomfort associated with prolonged screen use.

Natural Healing

It’s true what they say about being in nature; it makes us feel good physically and emotionally. That’s because it increases serotonin and dopamine levels:

Serotonin - Outdoor light exposure, exercise, and even exposure to soil can naturally increase serotonin levels, a mood-stabilizing hormone that impacts our well-being and happiness.
Dopamine - Aka the "reward chemical," is involved in pleasure, motivation, and reward-based learning.

Sense of Accomplishment

Achieving goals reinforces our self-esteem and confidence, motivating us to work even harder. It helps to eliminate any negative feelings we may have about ourselves.

Accomplishments help us feel that we’re making a difference and contribute to a greater sense of meaning in our lives.

These attributes, provided by Mother Nature, can have a favorable effect on one’s physical and mental well-being. And in the current state of affairs, we sure can use it.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

What activities help to calm the anxiety-inducing things in YOUR life?