Sheltering in the Garden
Julie took off her shoes. She carefully stepped onto the soft grass, and closed her eyes. In the solitude of the fragrant garden, she inhaled deeply. Tears rolled down her cheeks. This was the first time she’d been outside in three months. Until now, she hadn’t felt safe to venture outdoors due to the pandemic.
As people grow weary of sheltering in place both in Los Angeles and other major cities, a new trend has emerged – a therapeutic trend to re-connect with the natural world for healing and solace.
Garden Solace
The pandemic forced many parks and gardens to close…at least temporarily. Consequently, city residents lost access to their beloved green space.
However, several home gardeners in the LA area have joined forces to help their community cope with the pandemic. They have rented out a portion of their garden for people to visit and enjoy the benefits of nature.
It’s a sort of Airbnb rental concept for gardens. And these gardens provide safety and solace to guests – by the hour.
Healing for the Community
This ingenious garden rental idea has helped people to safely venture outside.
Some people rent a garden to teach yoga classes online. Some guests exercise, read a book among flowers, paint, or watch pollinators dance from flower to flower.
Some visitors just lie on a blanket, take a nap, and listen to the serenade of birds.
Or, like Julie, some guests simply stand barefoot and ground themselves in nature.
Each garden rental provides the guest with a reminder that nature is still available for them to enjoy — that there’s a place where they can connect with nature beyond the four walls of their shelter in place.
Many guests speak of these garden oases as places of healing. They experience the calming influence of the natural world. It’s a time for connection…a time to slow down and discover, or re-discover, what truly inspires them — even during the unfamiliar restrictions of the pandemic.
How to Find and Book a Garden in the Los Angeles Area
Garden bookings are made directly through Healing Gardens which is a new online marketplace that allows garden owners to list their gardens for rent. Each garden showcases photos of the garden, amenities, and hourly rate. Payment is made directly through the Healing Gardens website.
So, kick off your shoes, breathe the sweet floral fragrances, and savor every moment in the garden.
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Written by Linda Rivers
Linda Rivers is a freelance writer and certified beekeeper who writes about soil, gardening and beekeeping. She owns and operates Lions Creek Farm – an alpaca farm located in Loganville, GA.
Website www.lionscreekfarm.com