Are Flowers Essential?

All sorts of new phrases have entered our collective vocabularies in the past couple months: social distancing, hunkering down, essential business, etc.

As I write this non-essential business is back in business but I’ve been pondering this question lately: are flowers essential?! Hmm… guess it totally depends who you ask! But I’m here to convince you that YES, THEY ARE!

They deserve a place in your precious garden and a place on your table.

Here’s why:

You and I know we feel better when we have flowers to view in the garden. I’m always soothed when I look out my kitchen window and see flowers. In fact, I’m designing my gardens so I see MORE flowers out my window.

We also know there’s something almost magical about having flowers on our dining room table. But why?

Is it really beneficial to our health and well being? It seems like it is but I wanted to dive into the research to see what science has to say about all this.

In one study office workers were put in a room to view pink roses for 4 minutes each.

After the study workers that had viewed the flowers “resulted in significantly increased parasympathetic nervous activity”. And remember the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the “rest and digest” part of our nervous system. It helps us feel calm and relaxed, it is the opposite of our sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our “fight or flight” response.

So viewing flowers was demonstrated to significantly reduce the stress response. Even after only 4 minutes! And we all know decreasing stress increases our bodies natural abilities to fight disease and keep us healthy.

In addition, “ 'comfortable,’ 'relaxed’ and 'natural’ feelings were more common in subjects exposed to roses.”

Note, that the study used roses, but in fact, any flower could be substituted in here. Think Turnstone bouquet :)

In this study by researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey, flowers were demonstrated to have “immediate impact on happiness”.

In addition, “study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers”.

Flowers were also shown to connect people. “The presence of flowers led to increased contact with family and friends.

So what to do?

I know most of us have plenty of time outdoors to bask in nature’s beauty. But if you’re heading back into the office anytime soon (or toiling away in the spare bedroom), take along some flowers. Gift to your friend, boss, spouse, or yourself! Fill your indoor space with flowers :)

If you’re still hunkering down at home, make a place in your garden for flowers - and remember, these are for you! You need to be able to see them regularly out your window - while washing dishes, folding laundry, lounging on the couch, etc. And make sure you regularly cut them and bring them inside for the dining room table :)

If you don’t have enough to cut: 1) make a note to plan a bigger flower garden next year and 2) buy fresh flowers from the farm! We’ve got you covered.

Bouquet subscriptions are for sale until July 3rd. So reserve yours here if you haven’t.

Here’s to health! Here’s to peace!

And yes, flowers are essential.

Flowers are scientifically proven to reduce stress and make us feel better!