April Message from the President
Rhododendron augustinii ‘Marine’ with Rhododendron ‘Horizon Lakeside’ in front
Dear Friends,
Why Rhododendron Gardeners May Be Resting Their Brains Better Than Most
I have had something of a gardening revelation: pottering about among rhododendrons may actually count as brain care.
This idea stems from Dr. Joseph Jebelli’s writings about the brain’s “default network,” which activates when we are resting, daydreaming, or simply being quiet. Far from being idle, the brain may actually be in a state of restoration. Activities like walking in nature, sitting in silence, gazing out the window, and even allowing ourselves to feel bored can facilitate this process. Nature, in particular, provides what psychologists refer to as “soft fascinations,” i.e., the gentle movement of leaves in the wind, birdsong, flowing water, and shifting light, that engage our minds without overwhelming them.
Rhododendron gardeners have understood this all along.
What is a Cowichan Valley Rhododendron Society member's garden if not a sophisticated environment for restorative relaxation? What might appear to others as simply standing around doing very little is, in reality, a deeply restorative practice. We often begin with the intention of weeding or pruning, but we find ourselves admiring a bloom, inspecting a promising bud, or contemplating whether a plant would thrive better two feet to the left. Standing beside a rhododendron with a cup of tea and a mildly abstracted expression is not laziness; rather, Dr. Jebelli suggests that this is a form of advanced mental maintenance. Sitting on a bench and listening to the wind rustle through the trees is not wasting time; it is allowing the brain the quiet it needs to recover. Even gazing thoughtfully at a plant label that is no longer legible might offer therapeutic value.
On Vancouver Island, we are particularly fortunate. Our gardens provide the kind of quiet beauty that the brain craves: damp air, gentle light, mossy corners, rustling leaves, and rhododendrons glowing majestically through the mist. One hardly needs a meditation retreat when one has a rhododendron garden in the spring.
Since we are already out there, it is also the season to give our rhododendrons a little spring feeding. So, wander, admire, and restore your mind, while taking the fertilizer bucket along with you. The weeds can wait a few minutes. Meanwhile, the rhododendrons may be doing what they do best: restoring the spirit and, it seems, the brain as well.
Dorothy Kennedy
President, CVRS