Green Plants, Healing, and Hospital Recovery Times

Nature’s relaxing effect on the mind has been well-documented, as well as its positive impact on overall feelings of wellbeing. However, the power of plants extends farther than many people realize. Studies show that having green plants in hospital rooms even speeds up recovery time for surgical patients and reduces the need for pharmaceutical painkillers. Outdoor healing gardens at hospitals have also made a comeback in recent years, as more and more research concludes that their benefits extend beyond simple beauty to physical and mental benefits.

Science behind the healing power of plants

Hospital environments can be stressful and unnatural to our body’s natural rhythms. Uninterrupted sleep, lack of privacy, regimented meals, and of course, feeling under the weather take their toll by causing not only physical stress, but anxiety and fear. Green plants have a naturally calming effect. In 2008, researchers at Kansas State University found that surgical patients who had plants in their recovery rooms reported greater satisfaction with their rooms, less painkiller usage, and lower blood pressure and heart rates. The plants had such a positive impact on patient perception that they reported greater happiness with the plants than any other feature in their room, even the television!

Cut flowers versus potted plants

Although cut flowers also enhance the hospital room experience, green and potted plants have the added benefit of providing air purification as well as horticultural therapy, which allows post-surgical patients to help care for plants themselves as they recover. Engagement and responsibility through live plant care takes the patient’s mind off pain or anxiety as well as motivates them to move around their rooms, not due to coercion or pressure, but due to interest and enjoyment.

Benefits of healing gardens

The power of greenery can go far beyond individual patient rooms. Studies show that even patients who have a view of greenery out their windows heal faster. Healing gardens at hospitals help adult and child patients alike find respite from the emotional fatigue, stress, and unnatural stimuli of the hospital environment. Hospital staff also report that gardens give them a restorative break and sense of wellbeing, allowing them to “recharge and refresh” before the see more patients.

The health effects of green plants are not limited to surgical patients, but can also help boost memory and learning, reduce stress, and enhance positive mood and thinking. For more information, see here.

In addition to cut flowers and bouquets, Carousel Flowers in Rochester, Minnesota, offers beautiful and lush green plant arrangements, and also leases large potted plants. Please visit Carousel Flowers’ website for more information, or give us a call at (507) 288-7800!

Rose Colors and Their Meanings

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," William Shakespeare famously penned in Romeo and Juliet. But a rose of any color contains a deeper message than just a beautiful flower with a prized scent. Rose bouquets can express their sender’s feelings and intentions simply by their color. Next time you send a bouquet to someone you love, this guide can help you add another dimension of beauty and symbolism to your gift.   

Thinking beyond red

While red roses are widely known as a symbol of romantic love and Valentine’s Day, don’t assume all women prefer a bouquet solely made up of red roses. In fact, studies as well as florists typically claim that over half of women prefer pastel or softer-colored roses to the classic deep red. If you truly want to impress your recipient with a unique arrangement, you can go with a mixed bouquet of any of the colors below--or, make a bold statement by just choosing a bouquet of a single color.

• Pink: Pink roses have a classical, sweet look and are associated with grace, elegance, gratitude, and happiness.
• Lavender: Lavender roses are said to convey “enchantment.” Lavender makes a perfect choice to express falling in love with someone at first sight, and a bold, unique statement of devotion.   
• White: White roses were traditionally the bridal rose, and were associated with true love before the red rose became the more popular symbol of romantic love. Today, white roses are still used to convey feelings of innocence, purity, and reverence.
• Yellow: Most people know the yellow rose as a symbol of friendship and platonic love. The color yellow has long been associated with happiness and joy, which also makes yellow roses a popular choice to send someone in need of cheering up or getting well.
• Orange: The vibrant color orange symbolizes energy. In roses, this energy often expresses both desire and enthusiasm for the relationship or recipient.
• Peach: Peach roses have gained in popularity due to their beauty, charm, and elegance. Luckily, their versatility in meaning also makes them a practical choice for expressing thanks, appreciation, sincerity, and friendliness. They are also sometimes said to symbolize modesty.  
• Red: Red roses are, of course, a timeless and classic way to say “I love you,” as well as express deep romance and beauty. A solid bouquet of red roses has long been a popular choice for expressing love, but adding a few red roses to a multi-colored rose bouquet will also send the same message.

Carousel Floral Gifts and Garden has been serving the Rochester, Minnesota  area since 1991. We offer a selection of colorful flowers, including rose bouquets, to suit every occasion. Please visit our website to see our collections, or call us at (507) 288-7800.

Enjoy One of Nature’s Greatest Gifts this Holiday Season

Envision this: Decadent shades of crimson and gold, cinnamon and pine. These shades encompass all that is the warmth of the up and coming holiday season. The atmosphere which you create in your home has a direct impact on the behavior of the people within it. Colors, in particular, have been shown through studies to impact moods. This is why many therapist offices will decorate in various shades of greens – A color proven to recharge, relax and bring balance to one’s psyche – While bright red sports cars cost more to insure, due to the fact that human reaction time becomes more instinctive, forceful and less analytical when they view this color.

Flowers have long been regarded as a highly effective mood enhancer, both through their vibrant colors and aromatic scents. With the holidays right around the corner, you may be starting to see grand displays of lights and decorations appearing throughout your neighborhood and may be thinking about what sort of decorations you should put in your own yard. Have you given any thought, however, to how you would like to decorate the inside of your home?

Many people wait until Spring to adorn their home with flowers because they represent new growth and vitality; however, flowers can make a stunning addition to your holiday decorations. Rich, warmly colored flowers can promote communication, energy and excitement. Colors like red possess the ability to subtly increase one’s heart rate, keeping one warmer through the chilly winter season.

Not only do the color of flowers have the subconscious power of impacting mood, but their delicate and aesthetic makeup promotes feelings of joy and appreciation. A study conducted by Rutger’s University in New Jersey found that flowers possess both an immediate impact on happiness as well as a positive long-term effect on mood. The study also found that flowers help make more intimate connections with family and friends. Perhaps this is why flowers have not only been a prominent centerpiece in art, but also an indicator of love and a gift for those who are healing.

Consider, therefore, the refined yet intense impact that a stunning arrangement of flowers could have on your home this holiday season! Warmly colored arrangements will complete your holiday ensemble, both as both a garnish and a centerpiece. A spectacular and lively addition to any theme, a variety of arrangements can be purchased through your local florist or online through websites such as http://www.carouselflowers.com. Let your home be a garden of love and gratitude this season through one of nature’s greatest gifts: the flower.