My isolation oasis

Life has changed for all of us over the last month, hasn’t it?! For me, even though I work from home alone most days, there is still something missing. My husband who works in Maine four days a week has been home with me, and I must say it’s been wonderful having him here. Before isolation, we would squeeze all our to-do’s into three days, including our fun adventures (which honestly took precedence over all else). Now we have time to take care of the yard, exercise, clean the house, watch t.v., eat, drink and work! Imagine that? We are a good team, we are lucky that we have our own spaces in our home so that we can have the alone time we both need. Still, I’m pretty sure I’m driving him crazy. Still, there is a void. My middle daughter Face-Times us every morning so we can spend time with our grandson. It’s the best part of the day, but still….sometimes it makes me sad. I miss my kids like crazy. Technology has made it easier for us all to talk and see one another, but it’s just. not the same.

I am doing the things that bring me Joy, spending time with my husband, keeping up with my children, cooking, tending to my jungle, painting, exercising, getting out in the gardens, letting go of all the silly stuff that use to bog me down.

I hope that you will find Joy during this time.

Do you or someone you know love plants? Shop my Etsy store or contact me directly and I can create a beautiful hanging macrame planter or centerpiece, great for gift giving!! I can also find a plant for you that is not in my shop.

NASA Guide to Air Filtering Plants

I’ve always felt that living with houseplants had health benefits. I’ve lived with them for my whole life. I’m drawn to the beautiful foliage, the scent of the plants as well as the soil. I’m a person who loves to care for things, people, animals, personal property and of course plants.

You may have read that the Amazon rainforest is considered to be the lungs of the world and produces about 20% of the world’s oxygen. Apart from suffering many decades of deforestation, it is now on fire and the planet is warming. Many of our tropical houseplants originate from rainforests.

What can we do? Most of us do not have a spare million dollars hanging around waiting to do good things, but we all have local shops where we can purchase houseplants so that we can create more oxygen in our homes and offices.

How much oxygen do we need? It is believed that humans consume about 50 liters of oxygen an hour and a single leaf produces about 5ml of oxygen every hour by photosynthesis. That equates to about 10,000 leaves processing carbon dioxide into oxygen per person. The average oak tree has around 220,000 leaves which is enough to oxygenate 22 people – until autumn, when the leaves turn brown and fall off.

As most of us do not own our own rainforest, instead we can introduce leafy plants to our homes. Apart from converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, they also help to purify the air from airborne toxins too. Even NASA recommends everyone should have 15–20 houseplants in their home to cleanse the air – and NASA has been studying the oxygen-producing capabilities of plants for long-distance space travel and colonizing inhospitable planets.

This is the time of year when we start to think about bringing in Holiday greens to decorate our homes. Maybe this year along with bringing in cut greens, how about bringing in some live plants as well? The houseplants will last much longer than the Holiday Season, and will have lasting health benefits as well.

Do you or someone you know love plants? Shop my Etsy store or contact me directly and I can create a beautiful hanging macrame planter or centerpiece, great for gift giving!! I can also find a plant for you that is not in my shop.

NASA Guide to Air Filtering Plants

HELLO!

It’s my favorite time of the year!

Is there anything better than Fall in New England?  Specifically Fall in the White Mountains.  The leaves are turning color and just about at their peak.  As the weather begins to cool down, we begin to close our windows and not spend as much time on our porches and in our yards.  It’s the perfect time to bring the outside in.  This is where houseplants can really make a difference in your interior space. Not only do houseplants make your home feel cozy, but they also add to the health of your family.  

Why? They essentially do the opposite of what we do when we breathe: release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. This not only freshens up the air, but also eliminates harmful toxins. Extensive research by NASA has revealed that houseplants can remove up to 87 per cent of air toxin in 24 hours. Studies have also proven that indoor plants improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15 percent!), reduce stress levels and boost your mood.  This makes them perfect for not just your home but your work space, too.

At work, place plants on your desk; they will help regulate humidity and increase levels of positivity.  Seeing greenery helps us feel more relaxed and calm, which in turn benefits our every day mood.

It’s easy to create your own indoor sanctuary.  Whether you live in a small apartment, or a large house, by introducing certain plants into your home, you will start to notice improvements to your health, and overall happiness. As well as enhancing your mood and creating a living space that is soothing to be in, plants can also help with loneliness and depression. This can be a real issue for some people here in the White Mountains during winter months, when daylight is in short demand.  Caring for a living thing gives us a purpose and is rewarding, especially when you see that living thing bloom and thrive. 

An indoor garden can be your refuge from the cold winter world, and for many people it is a source of great joy.  I love being able to help others find joy through houseplants, if you feel you have a black thumb or don’t know where to start, give me a shout.