When I think of the meme "Mind. Blown." it's usually about something trendier than, say, birds. For example, the recent TikTok trend of eating the cream off the top of non-homogenized milk for the first time.

I'm not that trendy.

For me, the phrase popped into my head yesterday walking in the woods near my house when I came upon hundreds of birds.

There were three distinct flocks - juncos, chickadees, and what I *think* were towhees- singing and chattering, fluttering and rustling through the canopy and undergrowth. In the moment, it was overwhelming, in a positive, uplifting kind of way. The feeling lasted the rest of the walk home.

All of us gardeners know that being in contact with nature makes us feel better, and countless studies have shown the effect.

There's a new book out, however, that's making the case in a far more detailed, and surprising way: Good Nature, by Kathy Willis.

Kathy Willis is a proper scientist, the kind who looks through microscopes and publishes papers and is also a professor at Oxford. For the last 15 years she's been studying, in detail (like a LOT of detail), how exactly plants have such a positive effect on us.

From the way our eyes scan landscapes (broad scan, then focus on areas of finer detail) to the biological structure, location and sensitivity of smell receptors in our noses, she's interested in the exact pathways that sensory information from plants causes psychological and physiological changes in our brains and bodies.

The topic is fascinating. However, dear reader, I hate to inform you that actually reading it is a bit of a slog. The information is so detailed and so thoroughly reported that it reads a little like a bibliography, including the details of who did each study, when, where, and with how many participants.

For those of us who like that kind of detail, it's amazing. I'm pretty distrustful of books that are full of "studies show . . ." without actually naming the studies. Though I have to admit, they can be easier reading, even if the conclusions must be taken with a grain of salt.

So here I go, with a summary, and saying "studies show" for those of you who don't want to read the details (but with a clear reference to where the information comes from!).

The biggest takeaway from the beginning chapters of the book is that you merely have to see trees out of a window to have positive benefits. Many studies have repeated the same basic experiment across age groups and cultures: People are given a task where they can see trees out a window, or where they see buildings. People who can see trees are calmer, more content, and perform better.

If you wonder, what kind of trees? (it depends) How long do they have to see the trees? (not very long) Does it work with houseplants? (yes) What color houseplants give better boosts? (it depends) What about fall foliage? (again, it depends) You'll just have to get into the book. Each paragraph answers another question like the ones above.

I'll bring you more bite-sized findings over the coming weeks.

In the meantime, if you need a little more green indoors, especially those of you in places where it's very cold and gray, here's a code for 20% off microgreen kits: WINTERMICROS. It works on both the regular microgreen kits (large, small, and cat grass) *and* the already discounted factory second microgreen kits. You'll have greens like these within about a week of starting your kit (no grow lights required):

Happy Seedurday,

Anne

P.S. Seed club members - The winter mailing is going out this week! I'm having some real trouble with the back end of the software, which means I can't email you very easily or get your addresses into the shipping software. But we're almost sorted out. I have the seeds ready to go! You'll also be getting a bonus mailing next month as a substitute for the fall mailing I missed while I was sick. Spring is coming and we're getting back on track!

When you’re ready, here are some more ways I can help you grow a thriving garden from seed:

1. Plan your seed-starting schedule with our ​free printable planner.​

2. Download the free ​Orta Seed Starting Handbook with all the basics you need to succeed with seeds.​

3. Take the guesswork out of watering with Orta Self-Watering Pots. (Find discounted factory seconds here!)

4. Join the Orta Seed Club to have 5 hand-picked, unusual & high-yielding varieties delivered to you every season.

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