Enjoy the Day by Working in the Garden

A garden full of beautiful flowers and/or home-grown vegetables is a gratifying pastime for many seniors. Not only does it offer beauty and wholesome, nutritional food for you and those you share your bounty with, but a healthier lifestyle. 

Experts say getting outside to work in the garden is a wonderful way to get exercise and enjoy nature as well as to get a dose of vitamin D. They warn to protect your exposed skin with a sunscreen of 30 SPF or higher, wear light, loose clothing, and sunglasses to protect your eyes. Be sure to take frequent breaks, stay hydrated and don’t overdo it, and avoid working outside during the heat of the day. Gardening is a great way to reduce anxiety and stress and to forget about your problems, at least for a while. Overall, even a few hours a week doing something as enjoyable as gardening can strengthen muscles, improve mobility and increase flexibility.  

Growing tomatoes and lettuce or starting an herb garden is a great place for beginners to start and are appropriate plants for container gardening. For flowers, stick to those suitable for your region. Planning your garden is a big part of the fun and involves critical thinking in deciding what to plant and how to care for it.  In fact, studies show that with the physical aspect of gardening and the critical thinking skills involved in planning it, you may lessen your chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease. 

Another often overlooked benefit of gardening is the social aspect. While working in your garden may be a solitary activity, gardeners enjoy getting together in the forms of clubs, visiting their local farmers market, nursery trips, or joining a community garden project.  

MorningStar of Boise offers stylish independent living and assisted living suites in a variety of floor plans. To ensure the comfort and wellbeing of residents, we offer resort-style amenities and services with beautiful common areas including a fitness room, salon, billiards and game room, restaurant-style dining, strolling paths and raised garden beds. If you are looking for a luxury retirement home in Boise, MorningStar may be the place for you.

MorningStar is guided by a culture rooted in our mission of honoring God, valuing seniors, and investing in our team, which allows us to deliver services with warmth, sincerity and depth of purpose. We have built a reputation for creating homes filled with an atmosphere of love and community. Please contact us for more information about the finest retirement home Boise, ID offers.