Shinrin-Yoku

October 2018

Pickaway to Garden

 

Shinrin-Yoku

By Paul Hang

Have you heard of this? It is not a lower leg affliction which originated in Asia. It is what the Japanese call forest bathing. It is all the rage with the with it crowd. If it sounds like more new age spiritual mindfulness mumbo jumbo I hear you, but hear me out. People sun bathe don’t they? Or they did, until the evidence about sun exposure and skin cancer became undeniable. There is evidence of the therapeutic benefits of forest bathing. Forest bathing is another name for what most of us have experienced, if a little more involved.

 

If you search on Amazon you will find numerous books on the subject. The one I read is “Your Guide to Forest Bathing” by M. Amos Clifford by Conari Press. It is subtitled “Experience the Healing Power of Nature.” However it narrows Nature down to that part you can experience in a forest. Without going into great detail I will try to simplify what it is all about. There are numerous exercises, not just the physical kinds, that can be done. They systematically use each of the five senses to experience being in a forest. In Japan they have guides and shelters all to help people forest bath and give scientific evidence of the healing power of shinrin-yoku.

 

I was particularly struck by the suggestion of “Notice what you are noticing.”

You don’t go into the forest with any goal in mind, which seems contradictory what with all the suggestions. But I think that the book gives ideas to make the experience more meaningful. It is not simply a walk in the woods for exercise or to identify the trees and plants. It is to experience what your senses pick up while strolling or sitting in the woods.

 

I believe it is something like what my almost 3 year old daughter picked up when, 40 some years ago, we walked through Hartwicke Pines in Michigan, an old growth forest of giant pines. The forest floor was covered with a carpet of pine needles that softened our footsteps. It was cathedral-like.  My wife and young son were talking when the toddler said Shhhhhhh with her finger over her mouth trying to quiet us. I was amazed that someone that young could pick up on the almost sixth sense of the way the trees were communicating to her.

 

There is still time to try it for yourself before the leaves fall. Or try it while the leaves are in color. I think you could winter forest bathe. It might be more like a cold shower, bracing, invigorating.  Locally you can try this at Mary Virginia Crites Hannan Park, Hargus Lake, Calamus Swamp, Stages Pond or other places you may know.

 

.

 

 

Finally, fall is the best time to plant trees. Make the hole wide and shallow. Plant the tree with the trunk flare at or slightly above the ground level. Plant trees well away from buildings, no tall growing trees under power lines and not too close to each other. And water your trees, even during the winter.

 

Things to do in the garden:

 

Hot caps and covers should be made handy in case a frost or freeze is forecast. Remember that the coldest temperature usually comes a little after sunrise. The earth radiates heat away and the sun hasn’t climbed high enough to begin heating us. You might still save some plants even if you slept in after it became light. If you can protect your plants a couple more weeks of warmth is likely to follow. Average first frost for central Ohio is October 15.

 

Consider bringing in the houseplants that you put outside this summer if you haven’t already. Make sure you don’t bring in any bugs with them; a good blast of water from your hose can wash most of them off. Bring the pots into a sheltered spot for a week or so to help the plants acclimate before shocking them with the warmer temperatures of your home.

 

In October, and even into early November, plant garlic and shallots. Cloves from store bought garlic may not work as some are treated to delay sprouting. You can also order favorite varieties from seed catalogs. Separate the cloves and plant 4 inches apart. Harvest garlic around the 4^th of July.

 

Dig up your tender corms and bulbs as soon as they are frostbitten. Dahlias, glads, tuberous begonias and cannas should be dug and stored in a cool dry place. Most basements are too warm. Caladiums, on the other hand, should be stored at  65 - 70 degrees. Go to ohioline.osu.edu and bring up Factsheet HYG-1244-92 to get specific information on storing Summer Flowering Bulbs.

 

You can still divide day lilies and iris. Cut back the iris leaves to four-inch fans. Stop feeding your roses but don’t stop giving them water. Consider cutting back your roses halfway if they stop blooming. If you have dormant roses you can still plant them. Spring bulbs can be planted as soon as you get them. Plant them at a depth three times their length; place some bulb food in the hole with them. For a better display plant them in groups, not single file.

 

If you planted trees this year (it is still a good time) protect the trunks from gnawing rabbits and other varmints with hardware cloth or the plastic wrap made for this purpose. Even older trees can benefit from this if you’ve experienced this damage in the past.

 

If you don’t accumulate a lot of leaves consider just shredding them with the mower and leave them scattered on the lawn. Otherwise, compost them. It is still the best time to fertilize your lawn. Use a high nitrogen soluble product. You can still sow grass seed.

 

Leave seed heads for the birds. Also leave stems for overwintering good insects. You can put off most cleanups (but not in the vegetable garden) until next spring! Add mulch around perennials after the ground freezes assuming it will.