Pursuit of happiness leads to the garden

My pursuit of happiness was assisted by Sarah Delany’s counsel, contained in her book "Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years." She said: "Life is short, and it’s up to you to make it sweet." So I try, and this summer I have been exceptionally successful. Every day, I have found joy. Every single day.

It’s in my garden. And my neighbors’ gardens and in every flower I see when I take my morning walk. It explodes from stately, full-of-themselves agapanthus and spills forth from beckoning daylilies.

My joy in nature is enhanced because I work at Oregon State University’s Extension Service. The Extension campus has gardens everywhere, colorful walkways tended by vigilant Master Gardeners. Every day I see these hard-at-it volunteers, probably much like devoted gardeners all over the valley. And they are all just so blooming happy!

They’re healthier, too. Researchers at the University of Arkansas found women over 50 who engage in regular gardening have substantially better bone density than those who participated in more typical forms of exercise (jogging, bicycling and aerobics).

Research in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that just looking at a garden can be good for you. Studies at the University of California, Irvine, found that people exposed to an arboreal views followed by a walk in a nature preserve experienced decreased blood pressure and elevated mood — in a matter of minutes. Yet another study completed at Texas A&M found surgical patients in rooms with views of nature recovered faster. A related study used that same approach (garden views) and found particular relevance for patients with gallbladder difficulties (shorter stay, fewer potent analgesics).

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I can give personal testimony to the fact that if I go to the dentist and sit in the chair that looks out the window and into a lush oak tree, a root canal is more bearable.

Rutgers University has probably done the most research in this area, with specific attention to older adults. They found that for 80 percent of aging individuals, plants and flowers had a positive effect on depressive symptoms; 72 percent of older adults showed an improvement in performance on mental status (memory) tests.

My garden is a rage of color this year. I’m not sure why —probably the good attentions of the caring neighbor who watered our yard while we were on vacation. Whatever the reason for this year’s abundant color, I’m grateful. Joyful. And healthier too, I suspect.

I like the way one of the Rutgers researchers summarizes all this: "Common sense tells us that flowers make us happy. Now science shows not only do flowers make us happier than we know, they have strong positive effects on emotional well-being."

As you can tell, I’m feeling rather satisfied with my pursuit of happiness. It’s gone well so far this summer. And in the process I’ve taken to thinking of myself as ... an optimist by nature.

Sharon Johnson is an assistant professor in family and community development at OSU Extension and a member of the Senior Advisory Council. Reach her at s.johnson@oregonstate.edu.