Series Women and Plants (Part 3)
Ask almost any gardener why they garden, and the answer is rarely about vegetables or flowers alone. It is about the quiet. For many women across history, the garden was one of the few places that belonged to them, a place to work with their hands, rest their minds, and feel useful and calm at the same time.
Do gardens really improve mental wellbeing? Research suggests they can, and it helps explain how gardens soothe the soul. Studies link time with plants and green views to lower stress, better mood, and, in one well-known hospital study, faster recovery. The evidence mostly shows associations rather than proof of cause, but it points in a consistent direction.
This is Part 3 of our series on women and plants. In Part 1, we explored how women may have discovered cultivation. In Part 2, we followed plants into medicine. Now we turn to something quieter: what gardens do for the soul.
Key Takeaways
- Gardens have long been places of refuge, and literature has said so for over a century.
- A 1984 hospital study found that patients with a tree view recovered faster than patients facing a brick wall.
- A 2019 study of nearly 20,000 people in England linked at least 120 minutes a week in nature with better reported health and wellbeing.
- Commercial properties can offer the same benefits through shade, seating, paths, and thoughtful planting.
Women, Gardens, and the Idea of Refuge
The idea that a garden can heal is older than the research. In her 1911 novel The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett tells the story of children who recover their health and spirits by bringing a neglected garden back to life. The book has stayed in print for more than a century because readers recognize its truth.
Meanwhile, researchers began to explain why. Psychologists Rachel and Stephen Kaplan developed attention restoration theory, the idea that natural settings give our focus a chance to rest and recover. In other words, a garden does not demand our attention. It invites it gently.
How Gardens Soothe the Soul: What Modern Research Says
A View of Trees and Faster Recovery
In 1984, researcher Roger Ulrich published a study in the journal Science that compared patients recovering from gallbladder surgery in a Pennsylvania hospital. Patients in rooms with a view of trees had shorter hospital stays, received fewer negative comments in nurses’ notes, and took fewer strong pain medications than matched patients facing a brick wall. The study was small, with 46 patients in total, and it compared records rather than running a trial. Even so, it is one of the most cited studies in the field.
Two Hours a Week in Nature
In 2019, researchers at the University of Exeter reported on nearly 20,000 adults in England. People who spent at least 120 minutes a week in nature were more likely to report good health and high wellbeing than people who spent none. The benefit appeared whether the time came in one long visit or several short ones, and it held across many groups. Because the data came from surveys, the study shows an association, not cause and effect. Still, it suggests that regular, ordinary contact with green space matters.
Bringing the Benefits to Commercial and Community Properties
You do not need a hospital or a botanical garden to offer these benefits. Employees, tenants, residents, and visitors all spend time near the landscapes we maintain. Small design choices can make those spaces more restorative.
| Landscape Feature | Why It Helps | Example for a Commercial Property |
|---|---|---|
| Shaded seating | Gives people a comfortable place to pause outdoors | Benches under trees near entrances or break areas |
| Walking paths | Encourage movement and time outside | A loop path around a courtyard or parking area |
| Layered planting | Holds attention gently and offers seasonal interest | California native shrubs and perennials in mixed beds |
| Fragrant plants | Engage the senses and add calm | Sage or lavender near seating areas |
| Greenery in window views | Reflects the benefit seen in the Ulrich study | Planted beds visible from offices and common rooms |
Quick Checklist: Is Your Landscape Restorative?
- Is there at least one shaded place to sit outdoors?
- Can people see greenery from windows or walkways?
- Are paths safe, clear, and easy to follow?
- Do plants look healthy, tidy, and cared for?
- Does the planting offer color, texture, or fragrance through more than one season?
Next, in Part 4, we bring the whole series together and look at how these ideas translate into landscapes that serve people.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gardens and Wellbeing
Do gardens really improve mental health?
Research links time with plants and green views to lower stress and better reported wellbeing. Most studies show associations rather than proof of cause, so gardens are best seen as one helpful part of a healthy life.
How much time in nature is enough?
One large 2019 English study found that at least 120 minutes a week was linked with better reported health and wellbeing. The time did not have to come all at once.
Does a view of trees really matter?
A 1984 study of surgery patients found that those with a view of trees recovered faster than those facing a brick wall. The study was small, but it has influenced hospital design for decades.
What makes a landscape restorative?
Shade, seating, safe paths, healthy plants, and greenery that people can see and reach. Seasonal color and fragrance help too.
Can commercial properties offer these benefits?
Yes. Courtyards, entrances, break areas, and even narrow planting strips can become calm, welcoming places with the right design and care.
Ready to Make Your Outdoor Spaces More Welcoming?
Rubicon Landscape helps property owners and managers create outdoor spaces that people want to use. Tell us about your property, and we will walk it with you.
Sources and Further Reading
- White et al. (2019), Scientific Reports: Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing.
- Ulrich, R. S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, 224(4647), 420 to 421.
Make Your Outdoor Spaces More Welcoming
Healthy landscapes help people feel welcome. Let us help you plan one.
Resources for Going Deeper
- Save Our Water: California’s statewide water conservation program, including outdoor watering guidance.
- QWEL (Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper): EPA WaterSense-recognized certification covering irrigation auditing and system design.
- NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals): industry certification and continuing education for landscape and irrigation professionals.
- CLCA (California Landscape Contractors Association): California-specific water management certification and continuing education.
Why Rubicon
For more than 30 years, Rubicon Landscape has provided dependable, professional landscape services throughout the Bay Area, helping property owners and managers maintain landscapes that are healthy, attractive, and reliably well-functioning.
Our approach is built on quality workmanship, responsive service, and proactive problem-solving, the kind of long-term partnership that protects your landscape investment and delivers consistent results, year after year.
As a division of Rubicon Programs, that work also creates real community impact. Every project supports employment opportunities and workforce development that strengthen the communities we serve.
Professional landscape services. Reliable results. Meaningful community impact.
Looking for a Landscape Partner?
From commercial properties and municipal facilities to institutional sites and multi-site portfolios, our services include:
- Commercial Landscape Maintenance & Installation.
- Landscape Construction & Renovation.
- Irrigation Installation, Repair & Management.
- Water Efficiency & Conservation Solutions.
- Regenerative Services: Horticulture, Turf Care & Weed Management.
