The Power of Plants

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of putting together an event hosted for Rothy’s with landscape artist Lily Kwong at a working farm in Brooklyn. Yes, it was an actual farm, with rows and rows of vegetables (bell peppers! kale! tomatoes!), wildflowers, and fresh herbs set against the shimmering Manhattan skyline. Guests walked in straight from subway platforms and city sidewalks, and within minutes, you could see it: their shoulders dropped, their pace of conversation slowed, their energy shifted. There was a palpable, collective exhale as everyone took in the lush greenery amidst the hustle of the concrete jungle.

As for me, I’d gotten there at 6am, all geared up for a stressful morning. We had a portrait shoot to capture, a table to prep, remarks to say. For a lot of reasons, my heart should have been pounding faster than it was. But, as I walked the space alone and took in the plants literally “waking up” to the sun, I felt calm. This unexpected sense of calm lasted throughout the morning, reminding me just how calming proximity to plants can be.

Being surrounded by plants, particularly in unlikely places, helps us shift our mindset, reduce stress, and reconnect to something bigger than ourselves.I’ve been thinking about how to bring that calm energy with me beyond last Friday. So, below are a few ideas for how to bring the power of plants into our every day routines.

What the Science Says

Science backs what our bodies innately know: being around plants is a simple, powerful way to take care of ourselves. In recent years, a new field called “environmental neuroscience” has emerged that explores how and why our brains are impacted by spending time in nature. Based on what we know now, surrounding ourselves with plants and nature positively impacts our:

Stress & Anxiety: studies show that exposure to greenery, even if brief, reduces cortisol levels and lowers blood pressure (particularly important for those of us living in cities, who have a higher risk of hypertension and stress).
Cognitive Function & Creativity: It turns out, increased time spent indoors on screens isn’t helping our cognition. By contrast, studies have found that time spent in nature improved focus, memory, and creative problem-solving. So, by replacing some of that all-too-tempting screen time with activities spent outdoors (in nature!) we’re making two better-for-us choices that positively impact our brain and capacity to think creatively.
Longevity: Research shows people living near green spaces have longer lifespans and lower risks of chronic illness (likely, in part, due to lower levels of depression, increased social connection, and higher physical activity).

It’s no surprise then, that the happiest occupations have reportedly been careers that involve time spent in nature. According to The Washington Post, jobs in agriculture, logging and forestry have the highest levels of self-reported happiness and lowest levels of self-reported stress of any major industry category. Fascinating!

Nature in Your Everyday

While not all of us can live and work in environments immersed in nature, there are some simple tools that help even city-dwellers reap the same benefits.

House Plants

One easy solution, no matter where you live, is to invest in indoor plants. If you’re like me in thinking plants are simply decorative, you’re wrong. They actually serve a very functional, important purpose. House plants purify our air, improve our mood, create a calming environment, and even add humidity for better sleep and skin. If you’re new to plants, start simply (and maybe with something that’s hard to kill).

The Sill was where I bought my first plant when I moved to NYC after college. Some favorites of theirs include the Olive Tree, the Schefflera Arboricola Braid, and this Ficus Tree.

Another easy option is Bloomscape, which ships all over the US.

If you travel frequently, or are prone to forgetting to water your plants, try Easy Plant. I bought a bunch of their Birds of Paradise a few years ago and they’re still holding strong!

Beyond these, most cities and towns have local nurseries with plenty of options, which is a nice way to forego the headache of shipping and unboxing a plant.

Green Spaces in the City

Beyond house plants, knowing your local parks and green spaces in another easy way to tap into nature. The good news for those of us living in cities is that even quick-hit doses of “urban nature” improve mood and stress levels. And these exist in almost every major city in the world. In New York and LA, two places where we split our time, there are tons of options.

New York: Central Park // Brooklyn Botanic Garden // The High Line // Brooklyn Grange // Wave Hill // Domino Park // Prospect Park
Los Angeles: Descanso Gardens // Huntington Botanical Gardens // Rose Garden // Palisades Park in Santa Monica // Griffith Park // not to mention all the hikes that exist across the sprawling city…

Daily Nature Practices

As basic as these might sound, here are a few good habits to weave into your week to help make plants a part of your every day life:

A quick “nature” walk between meetings or calls, even if it’s only five minutes
Water a plant on your desk or kitchen counter
Create a weekly ritual around plants:

Farmers Market Flowers: Elsie is big into flowers at the moment, so we’ve been going to the farmers market so she can pick out what she likes. This week we got dahlias, lilies, and eucalyptus stems (btw eucalyptus is a natural stress and pain reliever).
Cooking with fresh herbs
Trimming a windowsill plant

Part of the beauty of plants is that they don’t rush. They grow slowly, steadily, and silently, requiring only sunshine, water, and soil. They remind us to pause, breathe, and stay resilient. Watering my plants also reminds me to hydrate, anyone else?! Caring for plants also serves as a metaphor for how we should be caring for ourselves and the people we love.

So this week, pick one way to invite more greenery into your world. Buy a little plant, take a park walk, notice the tree on your street. The power of plants is actually simple, and available to all of us. As I learned at our Lily Kwong breakfast, even in the busiest, most urban environments, plants can root us in calm.