I am grateful for the people and nature that fill my life with beauty and meaning!
N. Jordan Franklin, ©2022 HGIC, Clemson Extension
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. —Thornton Wilder
Gratitude is a topic on everyone’s mind during November. As children, we are taught to thank others for what they provide us and be thankful for what we have. As it turns out, gratitude is good for our health.
In his essay, Why Gratitude is Good, Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, states that gratitude has two components. First, gratitude allows us to identify goodness in our lives regardless of adverse or ‘bad’ circumstances. Second, gratitude encourages us to acknowledge the sources of goodness outside ourselves and recognize our humble dependence on others.
Research shows that a regular gratitude practice benefits our physical, psychological, and social well-being. The benefits include a more robust immune system, more optimistic and happy feelings, and a more helpful, generous, and compassionate nature.
In the vein of practicing gratitude, I offer a few things for which I am grateful today.
I am grateful for native grasses & forbs and their role in my enjoyment of nature and the health of our planet. – Native grasses and forbs are some of the most versatile (and beautiful) plants. They grow in almost any environment, including dry, wet, shade, sun, low-fertility soil, and conditions in between. Native grasses and forbs can range from inches high to eight or more feet tall, meaning they are useful in various landscape settings.
The native grasses and forbs in the labyrinth at the Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway, NC, range from a few inches to several feet tall.
N. Jordan Franklin, ©2022 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Native grasses and forbs provide year-round shelter, food, and nesting sites for insects, birds, and mammals. Their roots occupy almost every level of the soil profile, digging deep to relieve compaction and providing carbohydrates for soil organisms. These extensive root systems allow native grasses and forbs to pull carbon from the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) and store, utilize, or exude it in the form of carbohydrates (CHO). For more information, visit HGIC 1852, An Introduction to Native Plants for SC Landscapes.
I am grateful to you, our readers and clients, for providing me with satisfying and meaningful work. – I enjoy helping make your lives easier and providing more enjoyment and benefit to your gardening pursuits.
Clemson Cooperative Extension’s mission is to improve the economy, environment, and well-being of South Carolinians through the delivery of unbiased, research-based information and education. Thank you for trusting the Clemson Home and Garden Information Center as your source for reliable gardening information. Never hesitate to send an email (hgic@clemson.edu) or call us (888-656-9988) with your questions.
Please enjoy your friends and families in the coming weeks and take some time to practice gratitude in your life. Please share with us what gardening-related treasures make you feel alive today.
