Royal Botanical Gardens and Easterbrooks Hotdogs

Royal Botanical Gardens and Easterbrooks Hotdogs

by Sandra J. Howe

A weekend getaway to Burlington/Hamilton area. Lots of fun! Sunday was great with visit to Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) and gourmet hotdog lunch. We explored trails, hand-fed chickadees, soaked up greenery, and gobbled footlongs. What more could a girl ask???

RBG is a vast complex of gardens, nature reserves, greenhouses, arboretums, and an aviary. Nestled along the Niagara Escarpment with forests, meadows, wetlands and shoreline, it offers a wide range of natural and cultivated landscapes to explore. In green seasons, the gardens are full of blossom and beauty. In winter, RBG has other charms including birds and wildlife well-acclimatized to human contact. Feeling the tiny feet of a chickadee perched on my fingers is always a highlight for me. Carry sunflower seed to make friends!

When it is cold and bleak outside, a trip to the RBG greenhouses is just the thing. The variety of species in the cactus garden is fascinating. Interpretive signage offers insight into the diversity and habits of prickly plants. I have a special weakness for the tropical trees and shrubs that remind me of days in warmer climes. Aloes, agaves, figs, and bird of paradise speak of tropical places. Brilliant orange koi in the watergarden add a splash of colour, and amuse youngsters who amuse oldsters. It was tempting to taste the pomegranates but I let them be. Good for me!

After a snowy outdoor adventure along Grindstone Creek boardwalk and a saunter through warm greenhouses, we were ready for food. Comfort food, fun food. Enter Easterbrooks Hotdogs. Right across the street from RBG, a Burlington tradition. Classic soda shop decor in red and white tiles with red, vinyl counter stools. I went for the Reuben, a footlong with sauerkraut, mustard and cheese, onion rings along side:YUM!

Lots of choices: chili and cheese, lettuce and tomato, go spicey with jalapenos. Milkshakes, ice cream, fries; all your basic food groups. Are you salivating yet? And yes, they do have a veggie dog option.

Sunday is also aviary day but they were closed on this trip. Guess we'll have to do it all again which suits me fine. Hope you enjoy the pics! And here's the links:

http://www.rbg.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/EasterbrooksBurlington/

Forest Bathing, Shrinrin Yoku

Forest Bathing: A Free and Potent Medicine

by Sandra J. Howe

“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy.” 
― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

Have you wandered in a forest recently? Left people, buildings, street lights, and cell phone behind. Taken time to look, listen, smell and feel the abundant life around you. Sat quietly under a tree. If it has been a while since you indulged this way, you are missing out on some wonderful health benefits. Time spent in nature can reduce stress, uplift mood, improve memory and focus, and boost immunity. Now that's good medicine!

The term “Forest Bathing” comes from the Japanese, Shinrin Yoku, a practice of walking or resting mindfully in an outdoor setting. It can be done as a moving or sitting meditation with focus on sensory information: How does the tree bark feel? How does the air taste? Are there creatures scampering nearby? This kind of paying attention to immediate, natural stimuli relaxes our bodymind, reducing stress levels and improving mental health. Around the world researchers are discovering the amazing benefits of daily immersion in nature.

Saints and sages through the ages have offered insights into the essential value of engaging with the natural world. St. Francis learned lessons in spirituality from wild creatures. Thoreau wrote eloquently of the human need for outdoor contact. Rachel Carson said, “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” John Muir, considered as “Father of National Parks”, insisted on our need to preserve wilderness areas for human well-being. Richard Louv, in his book “Last Child in the Woods”, coined the phrase “Nature Deficit Disorder” to describe the human cost of alienation from the natural world.

Science is now proving what our great teachers have always said. Humans need time in nature to stay healthy and happy. A recent study at Tokyo's Nippon Medical School found that women who spent 6 hours hiking in the woods over 2 days showed increased levels of virus- and tumor-fighting white blood cells, and that the increase lasted for up to 7 days. England's Walking for Health Program has demonstrated improved health for thousands of participants at very low cost. The evidence is very clear: Walking in nature is good for us and feels good too!

In Grey-Bruce we are particularly blessed with opportunities to get outdoors in natural spaces. You can join a Bruce Trail hike, take a family stroll in Harrison Park, explore county forests, or wander through a local conservation area. You can go alone or with a group. But take your time, turn off your phone, breathe fresh air, and be grateful. Walking in nature will add beauty and bounty to your life. Forest bathing is a free and potent medicine. Get yours today!