Have you experienced that feeling of ease and calm when you walk into a greenhouse or garden space? That rush of oxygen, and the scent of green on the air?
Do you smile when you see the lines of mums outside the grocery store in the autumn? Or feel inexplicably happier when you notice the garden section reemerge from its winter retreat in the spring?
If any of the above ring a bell, or you can fill in a similar experience, then you’re already aware of the magic of plants. And if not, I’d love for you to enter a plant-filled space, spend a few minutes there, and see how you feel!
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A growing body of scientific research explains why we love plants and feel better when we’re around them. You’ll find one of my favorite overviews of why plants make us happy over on the blog for Horti, a plant subscription company. (More on them in a minute.)
Forest Therapy: Seasonal Ways to Embrace Nature for a Happier You by Sarah Ivens delves into this question in more detail. In the book, she shares her own journey toward a reconnection with nature and practical ways you can incorporate more forest bathing into your life as well!
In this post, though, I’d like to focus on some of my favorite resources for adding more plants into your life. You don’t even have to have a green thumb to get started!
The Magic of Plant Subscriptions
If you find the number of houseplants and their individual preferences overwhelming, consider a plant subscription box!
At the beginning of my plant journey, I researched several subscription plans. I wanted plants that were pet-friendly so I didn’t have to worry about my dogs. And while I wanted the plants to be of reasonable size and healthy, I wasn’t prepared to spend $60/month.
As I worked through the options, I determined that Horti was the best fit for me. They’re based out of New York City and ship across the U.S. They have a monthly plant subscription plan with three options for getting started: new-to-planting, pet friendly, and Horti’s pick.
Use my referral link for 10% off your first order!
If you don’t live in the US, I encourage you to find a plant subscription service close to you. Shipping plants internationally can be quite complex or simply not possible, and the plant will be happier having a shorter distance to travel.
The Magic of Plants + The Magic of Candles
If you’d like to combine the magic of plants with the magic of candles, check out The Growing Candle! My husband got me one of their candles this year for Puppy Mother’s Day, and I absolutely love it!
The Growing Candle embeds wildflower seeds in their candle labels. So instead of throwing away (or repurposing!) your candle when you’ve burned all the wax, you can plant wildflower seeds instead.
Confession: I have been hoarding my candle all year to savor it, so I haven’t planted my flower seeds yet. But I’m excited to plant soon!
Keep Reading and Learning
My hope for Fantasy Afield is to help you connect to the world, nature, and yourself. There are lots of amazing authors and great resources to help you do just that! But one of my personal favorites is Hilton Carter.
If you’re not familiar with his work, he has three books now on indoor plant care.
I loved all three of them, but Wild Interiors was probably my favorite.
There are two things that really stand out to me about Carter’s approach:
- He emphasizes the living nature of the plant you’re bringing into your home without making you feel bad about houseplant death of the past, present, or future.
- He encourages you to make your houseplant journey your own. Maybe you’ll just have one plant that you tend to carefully. Maybe succulents are a better fit for your lifestyle. Or maybe you work toward a plant oasis or urban jungle, like Justina Blakeney’s jungalow style!
(If you like the indoor jungle style that you’ll find in Hilton Carter’s stylings, I think you’ll also enjoy Justina Blakeney’s work! Personally, I am an earthy bohemian 💚)
Closing Thoughts
I hope this has given you a few ways to get started with adding more plants to your life.
Be sure to check out your local houseplant store or garden center in addition to online companies. There, you can connect with local experts and plant-lovers, and you can meet the plants in person to see who would be a good fit for you.
And if you’d like to encounter magical plants and plant-based magic in your fantasy fiction life, you’ll find all kinds of druids wonders in my epic fantasy series, Age of Azuria!
I’d love to hear more about your plant journey and the discoveries you make along the way! Share your own experiences with the magic of plants in the comments below!
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