by Melinda Myers
Fight the winter blues with a bit of green relief. Finding access to nature can be challenging when harsh weather tends to keep us indoors. Parks, botanic gardens and conservatories like the Mitchell Park Domes help improve access to nature.
Being immersed in nature elevates your mood and helps reduce the risk of developing and experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Work, school, and other aspects of daily life can lead to mental fatigue. Surrounding yourself with plants and spending time in gardens, parks and nature can serve as a distraction and help reduce this fatigue.
Be sure to provide the youngsters in your life with a bit of green relief as well. Spending time in gardens and nature helps them develop social, emotional and cognitive skills. “Green Time” can also reduce symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) in children and can act as an effective supplement to traditional medicinal and behavioral treatments. A visit to the Mitchell Park Domes provides a perfect opportunity to take them on a trip to the tropics and desert without leaving Milwaukee. Include a stop at the Education Center for some hands-on learning.
Watch for the many year-round events hosted by botanical gardens and parks that encourage everyone to get outside, move and enjoy nature. You will find yoga classes, walking groups, gardening classes and nature walks offered at many of these public green spaces.
Conservatories provide year-round access to green space no matter the weather. Collections of plants are housed under glass, providing opportunities to immerse yourself in greenery. Watch for the changing exhibits in the Show Dome and plan on visiting often. With various plants blooming at different times and more than 1,800 species of plants it is impossible to see and enjoy them all, in just one visit.
Green spaces like Mitchell Park Domes provide health and well-being benefits beyond each of us. Scientists found a strong correlation between green space and illnesses in a community. The more green space that’s available, the lower the level of disease in a community.
The Mitchell Park Domes is a great example of providing the public with green space that benefits individuals and the community. In its original charter Milwaukee County stated: “Let us provide for the public the ultimate in experiencing nature in the city. Plant life of many kinds must be sustained throughout all seasons…”. The Conservatory continues inspiring people through plants with its permanent and vast collection of plants from around the globe. The three domes feature desert, tropical and temperate zone plants. Visitors not only can immerse themselves in greenery but can experience the climate and vegetation of various locations around the world. This along with the changing displays in the floral dome encourages year-round visits.
Make it easy and affordable to visit botanic gardens and conservatories in your community and around the country by becoming a member of the Milwaukee Domes Alliance. Not only will you have free access to the Mitchell Park Domes but also over 360 other botanical gardens and conservatories across the country. It’s a great way to save money as you explore other gardens and conservatories across the country while supporting this Wisconsin icon.
Enjoy the many benefits that connecting with nature provides now and all year round. Add a few indoor plants to your home. You will enjoy the added greenery while elevating your mood. Walk in a nearby park or botanic garden and if you are near a conservatory, make this a routine part of your schedule. Once refreshed you will be better able to tackle the daily demands and handle the stresses of everyday life.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
