According to behavioral research conducted at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, nature provides us with a simple way to improve emotional health – flowers. The presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction and affects social behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is normally believed.

A team of researchers explored the link between flowers and life satisfaction in a 10-month study of participants’ behavioral and emotional responses to receiving flowers. The results show that flowers are a natural and healthful moderator of moods.

1. Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness. All study participants expressed “true” or “excited” smiles upon receiving flowers, demonstrating extraordinary delight and gratitude. This reaction was universal, occurring in all age groups.

2. Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods. Specifically, study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.

3. Flowers make intimate connections. The presence of flowers led to increased contact with family and friends.

“Flowers bring about positive emotional feelings in those who enter a room,” said Dr. Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Rutgers and lead researcher on the study. “They make the space more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere.”

The full report and article can be found online at Society of American Florists.

Here’s a great story of a group of six women who have bonded through gardening.  One day a week, they set aside their own jobs to garden as a team at one of their homes, rotating every week so that each woman’s property gets the full benefit of their collective burst of labor and artistic vision. Each woman brings her individual skills to bear and the group is delighted to learn of other gardening co-ops, inspired by theirs, which have sprung up in their area – the idea taking hold like a felicitous invasive species.

The entire story written by by Susan Dominus can be found at www.realsimple.com.

Member Geranium Lakes own Kim Foren, www.geraniumlake.com, was featured in a casual, informative editorial clip.

Kim coordinates with host David Musial from Fusion NW – “Backyard Bouquets” Channel 6 to demonstrate the use of flowers from your own garden to create one-of-a kind arrangements for your dinner table!

Many of our clients are avid gardeners or have extended knowledge of flowers and plant.

For those of you cultivating an interest in home gardening, here are some tips from Real Simple magazine online to help make your garden grow!