FINALLY!

 

The sun is out, the lake has receded from our front yard, and I detect a haze of green buds across the water. I think it MIGHT just be spring! That’s a relative term here in the north woods, where seasons often leap from winter to summer, but I actually saw a few crocus blossoms emerge through the blanket of snow on my garden a few weeks ago. Wasn’t that a sign of spring? And Mama Robin has nested in the timbers of our entry roof—a SURE sign. I’ve raked away the detritus from my flower gardens and hope to finish major gardening tasks before the black flies emerge. Little blankety-blanks!

I shouldn’t be so critical, especially since I learned blackflies are responsible for pollenating our precious wild blueberries. But they ARE nasty little buggers. We’ve discovered the perfect blackfly repellent, though—Picaridin. Works like a charm (or at least better than anything else we’ve found).

But I digress.

Spring.

It draws us outdoors, and that’s just where we should be. If my mood needs improving, a trek through the yard is a step in the right direction. My morning walk with neighbors offers both nature and socialization, a double day-brightener. As I’ve often said, I have yet to return from a walk and berate myself for wasting the time. Not only is the exercise good for us, but being active outdoors is a proven stress reducer. A study by Gretchen Daily, Stanford University Professor of Environmental Science, found “quantifiable evidence that walking in nature could lead to a lower risk of depression.” The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, found that “people who walked for 90 minutes in a natural area, as opposed to participants who walked in a high-traffic urban setting, showed decreased activity in a region of the brain associated with a key factor in depression.” Hmmm…

 

I’m amazed at the number of studies that support this finding, proof that outdoor recreation can improve both our mental and physiological well-being. It just stands to reason. Local photographer Bryan Hansel mentioned a study done in 2019 at the University of Exeter. Using data from nearly 20,000 people, researchers discovered that “people who spend at least 120 minutes in nature a week are significantly more likely to report good health and higher psychological wellbeing than those who don’t visit nature at all during an average week.” Apparently, it didn’t matter whether those two hours were spent in short outings daily (17 minutes a day) or all at once, perhaps a long weekend hike.

People in cities often have to drive to parks, while those of us in the wilderness just step out our front doors.

Sometimes I’m a little jealous of myself for living in a rural, forested area, where just a glance out the window at the bright sky and swaying pines brightens my mood. Best, though to get out and enjoy it.

Yay, SPRING!!!