Healing Properties of Gardens
The Gardens at Bella Terra were designed not only for visual beauty but for emotional and physical restoration as well. They provide a daily opportunity to unwind, reset, and experience the proven benefits that come from spending even brief periods in a natural environment. Modern research confirms what cultures have understood for centuries: even a short walk in a natural setting can reduce tension, quiet the mind, and lift mood.
Access to a setting of this quality is rare in residential communities—and increasingly valuable in a culture that offers few opportunities for quiet, restorative contact with nature.
History
Throughout history, gardens have been cherished by civilizations around the world. Horace -the Roman Philosopher and Poet, 65BC – 8 BC wrote “This used to be among my prayers - a piece of land not so very large which would contain a garden, and near the house a spring of ever flowing water, and beyond these a bit of wood.”
Sights, Sounds and Smells
The sights, sounds and smells of a garden have always provided people with a respite from their troubles and increase feelings of serenity and peace, particularly during times of stress. There is now an abundance of published scientific research documenting that natural settings produce significant and highly beneficial physiological changes in our bodies
Three to Five Minutes
Indeed, an article from Scientific American states, "just three to five minutes spent looking at views dominated by trees, flowers or water can begin to reduce anger, anxiety and pain, and to induce relaxation, according to various studies of healthy people that measured physiological changes in blood pressure, muscle tension, or heart and brain electrical activity."
Natural Experiences
If measurable changes can occur from simply viewing an image of nature, it is reasonable to consider the deeper impact of being fully immersed in it.
The multiple types of natural experiences provided in our Bella Terra community include the overall deep silence punctuated by the sound of falling water, the walks and sitting areas of the Central Garden, the privacy and beauty of the Grotto, all of which combine to maximize our residents opportunities to benefit from Nature’s positive physical, emotional and spiritual benefits by connecting us to a basic and healing human need – especially in these times of the cultural disconnection to Nature.
Click here for photos and videos of the Central Garden and view of the mountains to the east.