14 | health & fitness. Friday, may 7, 2010

There are few activities that are as healthy for you as gardening. It helps keep you fit while also being

rewarding for mind, body and spirit.Think about it: Fragrant flowers feed

the senses and the soul. Homegrown veg-etables feed the family and are delicious and nutritious. Shade trees provide food and shelter for both you and the birds, while shrubs and colorful perennials give you a gentle workout as you trim branches and deadhead fading flowers.

From early recordings of civilization, man has har-vested roots and leaves from the earth to feed himself and help him feel better. It is not simply what is ingested, however, that is good for us.

Working in the soil or even viewing a landscape has been proven to assist in the healing process. It’s been shown in studies that patients recover quicker and need fewer pain drugs when their rooms have a view of trees instead of just walls. Plants and flowers have a calming effect on both patients and the rest of us. Caring for and connecting with nature are ways to heal the spirit, too.

Most of us love having flowers and plants with fragrance in the landscape. A few unlucky people have allergies to strong smells, but most of us can’t help but swoon over a fragrant rose or a bou-quet of lilacs. A garden’s fragrance can be as unforgettable as its appearance. The scent of a particular flower can make you remember past times and places.

Plant fragrant plants in just a few spots to provide a mystery perfume that wafts through the garden. Plant them in containers to scent a deck or patio, or locate them beneath a window and let their aroma drift indoors.

There’s a new Erysimum available that bears fragrant, bright golden-yellow flowers. Called Gold Rush, this perennial grows 8 inches tall and would look great along the edge of a path, where its scent

could be enjoyed as you walk by. Wallflowers like the sun, and deer seem avoid them.

Then there’s lightly scent-ed Tulbaghia fragrans. This drought-tolerant society garlic has thick, wide leaves and looks quite different from the traditional variety, although the flower is simi-lar. The fleshy leaves are deer-resistant, too.

In spring, there may be nothing quite as spectacular as a wisteria vine loaded with

purple, pink, blue or white fragrant flower clusters covering an arbor or pergola. In San Lorenzo Valley, where I live, you can see them growing high in the trees along Highway 9. They are true survivors. If you’ve ever tried to get rid of one (heaven forbid), you can attest to their tenacity. In the right spot, their scent is divine.

There are many fragrant native plants, too. Philadelphus, or mock orange, is one of the best, but spice bush, Ribes vibur-nifolium, carpenteria, rose and some ceanothus are mildly scented, too.

I can’t leave out the old-fashioned

Garden work can heal body, spirit

border carnation. Their clove-scented flowers are borne in profusion, making them a nice addition to the mixed flow-er border and containers. Cinnamon Red Hots, a newer variety, bears inch-wide bright red flowers that attract butterflies and need no deadheading.

When you head into the garden, warm up before you grab the spade to prevent injuries. Break up your tasks so you aren’t trying to tackle every-

thing Saturday morning. Remember that tired muscles are more prone to injuries. Plant something to eat that you especially like. And, most of all, take the time to let the healing powers of your garden do their magic.

Jan Nelson, a certified nursery professional at Plant Works in Ben Lomond, will answer questions about gardening in the Santa Cruz Mountains. E-mail her at janis001@aol.com.

JAN NELSONThe MounTain Gardener

Jan nelson/Press-Banneraromatic: Wisteria vines, like this one at Filoli Gardens, provide a classic scent in the garden.