Category Archives: gardening

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The Healing Power of Nature on Human Health

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Much has been written on the positive impact that exposure to nature has on general well-being, physical, and mental health. And yet, it seems that developers have not gotten the message. Why, I do not know. Maybe they are not aware of the research on the health benefits of nature. If not, here is some material to share.

A website post and two reviews, from most recent to next (within past five years):

Benefits of Nature Experience from Canada, posted in April 2024, lists the following benefits:

  • Attention: Our attention is a limited resource and it can become ‘fatigued’ throughout the day. Nature has been shown to restore attention and our ability to concentrate (Mason et al., 2022). Nature has also been found to reduce symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Faber Taylor & Kuo, 2009).
  • Mood: Nature improves mood and makes people feel happier (Neill et al., 2019). There is evidence that nature exposure can improve symptoms of depression (Berman et al, 2012).
  • Self-regulation: Nature helps us feel calmer and less irritable. This means that we are better able to control our impulses (Beute & de Kort, 2014; Weeland et al., 2019).
  • Stress: Nature reduces symptoms of anxiety, physical stress, and heart rate. It also helps us feel more relaxed (Shuda et al., 2020).
  • Social: Nature tends to increase generosity, cooperation, and our sense of social connection (Arbuthnott, 2023; Weinstein et al., 2009).

Impact of Nature on Human Health. An open access article, published in 2022:

this review has documented the increasing body of evidence in support of [nature-based-interventions] NBIs as effective tools to improve mental, physical, and cognitive health outcomes, and highlighted key factors that improve engagement with the natural world. [bracketed explanation of acronym inserted from elsewhere in the article]. Emphasis added.

And, finally, from 2021, another open access review, Association between Nature Exposure and Health, concluded that:

 We assessed the strength of evidence from experimental and observational studies and found evidence for associations between exposure to nature and improved cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, mental health, physical activity, and sleep. Evidence from experimental studies suggested protective effects of exposure to natural environments on mental health outcomes and cognitive function. Cross-sectional observational studies provide evidence of positive associations between exposure to nature, higher levels of physical activity and lower levels of cardiovascular disease. Longitudinal observational studies are starting to assess the long-term effects of exposure to nature on depression, anxiety, cognitive function, and chronic disease. Limitations and gaps in studies of nature exposure and health include inconsistent measures of exposure to nature, knowledge of the impacts of the type and quality of green space, and the health effects of the duration and frequency of exposure among different populations (e.g., adults, children, historically marginalized).

Reminds me of John Sebastian’s tune,  Daydream.  And also that I should take a walk outside about now…

2024-10-20-Monarch-IMG_9401

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Blooming in late May and Early June…

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Here are a few of the flowers and other stuff I managed to capture on digital media recently.

Actually, there are a lot more items in bloom, but these were closest on hand. The front yard also has Four-nerve daisies, Wright’s skullcap, Autumn Sage, Simpson’s rosinweed, Turkscaps, Engelmann daisies, Rock Rose, and White avens in bloom, besides those pictured below.

The South side of the house has Passiflora vines, copious amounts of Gulf Fritillary and other butterflies in varied stages of development, a Texas lantana, a Datura , lots of Blue Curls, a couple of White mistflowers (not blooming until the Fall), Clematis texensis and drummondii, some Asclepias plants for the Monarchs, and that pretty much covers what’s on bloom in June.

Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine), slightly past its glory

(Achillea millifolium) Milfoil

(Salvia farinacea) Mealy blue sage
Rudbeckia hirta – Brown eyed Susans

A surprise on June 1st – two baby Bluebonnets (Lupinus Texensis) blooming in the front yard!
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In praise of Tetraneuris scaposa

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Last post was nearly 6 months ago, after having gotten elected to my subdivision’s Home Owners Association (HOA). Fortunately for me, the new President has an excellent leadership style and a sense of humor – he’s commented a few times on my lack of love for Crape Myrtle (aka Crepe Myrtle) (Lagerstroemia spp.), and I have made a gavel from the remains of a few branches which had the misfortune of hanging over my property. (I have four longer pieces which I hope will become walking sticks or canes).

But I digress. This year Central Texas faced a drought throughout the Spring and Summer. Then, throughout November, we’ve had plenty of rain to raise our hopes for an abundant crop of wildflowers in the Spring. With the warmest December day we’ve ever had (82º F) this week, however, we should be cautious in making predictions.

So, recently, I’ve stepped outside and found Gulf Fritillary caterpillars still on green Passiflora leaves (photo 1), and further below, bunches of yellow Tetraneuris scaposa flowers taking advantage of the extended growing season.

Gulf Fritillary caterpillar( Dione vanillae) Photo taken December 2, 2022

Photo taken December 2, 2022 of caterpillar.

Four Nerve Daisies (Tetraneuris scaposa)  (photo 2) planted in the “nuisance strip” between the sidewalk and the curb; blooms are still going strong into December.

However, Tetraneuris scaposa can and will bloom throughout the year, here in Central Texas.Four Nerve Daisies Conditions have to be right, of course. They bear up to the heat of 100º F summers, but do need some water. And, as always, rain water seems to be the best for promoting growth in these and in BlackFoot Daisies (Melampodium leucanthum) of which I recently added a small plant and which has responded well to the recent rains.

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Lack of April Showers… doesn’t faze native wildflowers

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Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala)

Well, the month of April is nearly over.

Here in Central Texas, the Golden Groundsel (Packera obvata) have already gone to seed, and the state flower, the Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) is still in bloom, but many have started to go to seed.

My Milkweeds are coming up and thriving, but no blooms yet. Four Nerve Daisies (Tetraneuris scaposa)continue to push out blossoms. False Foxglove (Penstemon cobea) and Brazos Penstemon (Penstemon tenuis )are blooming..

The Mealy Blue Sage  (Salvia farinacea) are bouncing up and are in bloom in the backyard. The inconspicuous Purple Milkweed (Matalea biflora ) has bloomed, and the Purple Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) vines nearby, have bloomed.

Lyre-Leaf Sage (Salvia lyrata )and Missouri Violets are in bloom lining the front yard stone walkway.

And the Scarlet LeatherFlower (Clematis texensis ), which is endemic to the Edwards Plateau, has also put out several flowers. The Coral Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) flowers are starting to open. And a few white wine cups (Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba) that I had rescued from a construction culvert on Old Chisholm Trail in Round Rock are in bloom, with their white petals and faint purple lines. They are endemic to just a few counties in Texas, and the Williamson County chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas has adopted the name “Williamson County Winecup” for this species.

Finally, let’s hear it for the  red, white and blue blooms.

Rose Pavonia (Pavonia lasiopetala) (more hot pink than red) Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)(both red and white, and Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium pruinosum) are all in evidence.

I don’t need any more evidence to arrive at my verdict.

Native plants are the answer.

Strymon melinus – Gray Hairstreak
Queen on Gregg Mistflower
Stachys coccinea – Texas Betony
Gulf Fritillary on Gregg Mistflower

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What’s in bloom in December?

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Just a look at the most recent shots:

Horsemint – click image for detail
Opuntia engelmannii – Prickly Pear (click for detail)
Sonchus sp. – Sow Thistle – click image for detail
Dalea greggii – Gregg’s Dalea – click image for larger size

Taken on December 1, 2021. Since March 27, I have seen and photographed at least one Monarch Butterfly in each of the following months in 2021. And that just doesn’t seem right…

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A possible explanation to Monarchs’ dallying around Texas this year

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This article came up in my newsfeed recently,.

It suggests  why some Monarch butterflies seem to be hanging around Texas this year – the popularity of Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). The article further goes on to explain that

” Tropical milkweed becomes a problem when planted in temperate areas where it does not die back in winter. A protozoan parasite of monarch butterflies, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha or OE for short, can travel with monarchs visiting the plants and become deposited on leaves. When caterpillars hatch and start eating the plant, they ingest the OE. High OE levels in adult monarchs have been linked to lower migration success in the eastern monarch population, as well as reductions in body mass, lifespan, mating success, and flight ability.”

Milkweeds native to the region die back after blooming, and with them, the OE. Thus each new flight of Monarchs gets to lay their eggs on new, uninfected milkweeds.

Interestingly, the article was written over three years ago…

Tropical Milkweed is a No-Grow – by the Xerxes Society

On the other hand, I have now seen and photographed Monarchs in my backyard from late March through November . I went to vote  on Tuesday, November ,2, and  observed more than a few Monarch butterflies, both in the greenbelt and in the demonstration garden. Sadly,  many of the flowers being used didn’t appear to be natives.  I also noticed that the milkweeds at the community center garden appear to be Tropical milkweed. (They have yellow flowers instead of orange flowers).

Some plants and wildlife in October:

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August: the heat goes on… But if you plant it, they will come.

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But not as hot here in Central Texas as it is elsewhere, and not as hot as it has been in recent years, when there were streaks of thirty or forty days of 100 plus Fahrenheit weather. This year has been hot but humid – hey, the moisture from the melting ice caps has to go somewhere, right?

And yet, “Mother Nature” continues to give us native plants that thrive in whatever kind of weather and climate she gives us. Or we make for her, given that the current climate change is driven by the Industrial Revolution, which began some two hundred years or so past.

The Conoclinium greggii (Gregg’s Mistflower) will bring Queen and Monarch butterflies to your yard. It has been interesting to watch the Queens defend their territory against the one or two Monarchs that attempt to get a pheromone enhancing boost from the mistflowers.

 I’ve even seen a Gulf Fritillary take a break from the Passion Flowers and go after the mistflowers.(click on photos in the gallery to see them full size).

Passiflora icarnata infloresence, tri-lobed leaves, and tendril

Well, this didn’t start out as an orange and black butterfly identification post, but that’s where it ended up, it seems. Go figure.

As you plant more native plants, you will find that you attract more native wildlife (and, hopefully ,fewer exotic or invasive fauna).

Sitting on the steps of the deck before dinner, as I took several of thee photos, the line from Ray Bolger’s character in The Wizard of Oz came to mind: “I could while away the hours, conversing with the flowers…”

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All my weeds are wildflowers (I wish)

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Passiflora incarnata/Ruellia nudiflora hybrid?

A couple of native plant species have begun to spread like weeds in the narrow area separating my subdivision plat from my neighbor’s house.

Passiflora incarnata, or Purple Passionflower, has sprung up where a corkscrew passionflower vine used to be, and through rhizomes has managed to propagate itself all along the Southern side of the house. I’ve done some pulling of the pups as the poke up through the mulch, and have been able to give away a few of them for others to try to get their own vines going.

The flowers of the Passion flower vine are about three inches in diameter, with the petals forming a wavy fringe. Stamens and stigmas also are striking in appearance as well. Several different types of butterflies use this as a larval host, most notably the Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae ) and Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta  claudia ) butterflies. 

Passiflora icarnata infloresence, tri-lobed leaves, and tendril

Passiflora icarnata inflorescence, tri-lobed leaves, and tendril

The Ruellia nudiflora, or Wild Petunia, also has a purple to lavender flower, but it is trumpet-shaped. And it’s not a vine, but a sub-shrub perennial . After having transplanted this volunteer several years ago, it has now decided to propagate itself, like a weed, in the mulched bed and in the gravel path. Although its inflorescences look much like those of the cultivated Petunia, it is in the Acanthus Family, while the cultivated Petunia is in the Potato Family. The blossoms open in the morning, falling off in the afternoon. Like several other of my favorite wildflowers, its flowers are ephemeral, lasting for just a day.

Ruellia nudiflora inflorescence, surrounded by Passiflora leaves and tendril

Ruellia nudiflora inflorescence, surrounded by Passiflora leaves and tendril

As if having to “weed” native species wasn’t bad enough, as one can see from the top photo in this post, it looks as though the two plants have begun to hybridize to form a new species. Fortunately, (or unfortunately), that’s not the case: A blossom from the Ruellia has been captured by a tendril from the Passiflora, making it look (almost) like it belongs to the vine. 

Not sure what I’d do if they actually did start to hybridize – probably get a botanist or two to take a closer look. And get a nursery to work with to develop and patent the new species. And sit back and watch the money roll in (ha!).

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