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By Lauren Turner, NCSU Intern for NC Cooperative Extension of Orange County

 

Turtles rest on a log at Lake Raleigh by NC State’s Centennial Campus.

During the hot summer months, it can be easy to want to avoid the heat. Yet there is so much life occurring outside! Do you ever feel stuck inside and yearn to walk among the trees? As a student at NC State, when I feel this way, I typically find myself exploring the campus for over an hour, walking around and observing new plants in bloom or a change in the growth of a plant I have visited many times before. Connecting with the natural world can change your mood and perspective. I feel there are a few key characteristics, rooted in the following, to grounding oneself through time spent outdoors: Stillness, Movement and Observation.

Sometimes I take in the stillness of an evening by seeking out a new perspective in an area that brings me comfort. On one impromptu walk to the Court of Carolinas, the largest green space on the NCSU main campus, I visited one of my favorite trees to collect some dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) cones. When I found myself in need of a break and sat down, that’s when I noticed the beautiful array of colored lichen growing on a wooden bench. I took this opportunity to position one of my cones by it. The brownish-orange colored cone was lit up by the setting sun and the vibrant colors stood out with such earthy contrast. The photo generated from this quiet and intentional moment is one I will always cherish.

A dawn redwood cone beside brightly colored lichen glows in the setting sun.

I also cultivate my relationship with the natural world around me through my choice to move. The openness of the great outdoors invites me to explore and broaden my knowledge of plant materials. It’s exciting to visit both familiar plants in new landscapes plus new plants that I am not able to recognize. If I’m particularly interested in identifying a plant I don’t know, I may ask a fellow plant person or use the Seek App by iNaturalist. I love to share what I learn with my family, friends and new acquaintances, pointing out distinguishing characteristics or describing my adventures to collect flowers, leaves and cones.

I think John Muir expressed this feeling well: “When we try to pick out anything by itself we find that it is bound fast by a thousand invisible cords that cannot be broken, to everything in the universe.” Part of my passion for taking walks to explore the natural environment around me is to satisfy my curiosity and grow more connected to others.

Lauren Turner sits on the Brickyard at NC State with chalk art that is prompting students to look inwardly.

I encourage you to think about what brings you joy. You too can develop ways to connect with your natural environment through embracing movement. Create opportunities for fellowship with those around you by going for a stroll with your pet in the neighborhood, meeting your friends to work in your garden or volunteering at your community garden to meet new plant lovers. Movement can even look like drying flowers to use their petals for homemade confetti or repotting and caring for your houseplants indoors on a hot day. Use your imagination and try something new! You may surprise yourself and discover a hobby that fascinates you.

A bumblebee inspects a cosmos flower for pollen in the NCSU SOL Garden.

Time and again, I set out on a walk to calm my mind and disengage from the business of school and life. As I focus my attention on details like new leaves emerging on a tree or a bee searching for fresh pollen on a newly opened flower, the weight of daily responsibilities is lifted from my mind. For me, it is much like how rain rejuvenates the plants growing in the earth: being deliberate in observation of my surroundings restores my brain’s capacity to think clearly and creatively. According to the American Psychological Association there are a host of benefits that are linked to spending time in nature. Some include increased empathy, improved working memory, improved attention span and improved cognitive flexibility.

Make a routine of visiting a park or public garden in your area to experience the ever-changing and captivating dynamics plants bring to the landscape. Step just outside your home to investigate your personal garden or neighborhood on a closer level. Stop by a spot that intrigues you on a regular basis to observe if anything has changed. As the year progresses and the seasons shift, there is always something new. Take the time to look closely and you will likely notice something you’d usually overlook.

I discovered this beautiful crocus in a flowerbed behind NCSU’s Holiday Hall that I frequently pass. I never knew it was there until this spring.

Nature displays so many wonders for us to experience. All that is required to broaden our understanding is a desire to seek out the unknown. Consider how you can incorporate the principles of stillness, movement and observation into your daily life to strengthen the network of invisible cords that link you to the rest of the world!

Resources for more ways and reasons to include time with nature in your life:

This article was written by Lauren Turner, Horticulture Student from NC State University and Intern for NC Cooperative Extension of Orange County Summer 2023. She desires to connect plants and people through hands-on learning.

All photos by Lauren Turner.

Check Us Out! 

  • Have a plant or garden question? Email the Orange County Master Gardener volunteers at ocmgardeners@gmail.com or phone 919-245-2061.
  • Follow us on Facebook! Our page is Orange County NC Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.
  • Subscribe to The Garden Buzz, the Orange County Master Gardeners’ monthly newsletter, for gardening news and tips. And visit our website, The Orange Gardener.
  • Save the date! The Orange County Master Gardener volunteers will hold PlantFest, a plant sale and festival, on Oct. 14, 2023, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 1020 US 70 W, Hillsborough, NC 27278.

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