Engage Senses Plants Once Dowdall: Peter At Multiple

Sun, 17 Nov, 2024 - 02:00

Peter Dowdall

Did you ever think about when plants and psychology meet? Perhaps you haven’t done so consciously. However, I do not doubt that you have admired a plant in your garden and thought about the person who gave it to you, filled the olfactory nerves with a sweet scent which brought you straight back to childhood or some happy time.

Perhaps every time that you see amaryllis in a flower bouquet you think of that special Christmas or your wedding day. Maybe it’s the hydrangeas that remind you of your grandmother's garden? Or is it the first plant that you planted in the garden of your first home that brings you back?

Whatever the memory, plants have a unique way of connecting us to people, places, and moments in time.

Whether it's the rabbit’s ear plant from childhood or the sight of a Christmas cactus passed down for generations, specific plants can serve as living reminders of those we love. While heirlooms are often thought of as jewellery, furniture, or photographs, living heirlooms, such as plants and flowers hold a special kind of significance. They are not just keepsakes but also living, breathing connections to our heritage and loved ones.

In a world that is constantly evolving, the psychological importance of keeping plants as heirlooms is profound. These green mementoes grow and change alongside us, serving as enduring symbols of continuity, resilience, and remembrance.

Our memories are deeply connected to our senses, sight, smell, and even texture. Plants can engage multiple senses at once, making them very powerful.

According to studies on olfactory and visual memory, smells and sights can trigger intense recollections because they are processed in the brain's limbic system, the same area responsible for emotion and memory. This is why a particular flower or plant can feel nearly like a tangible link link to someone who is no longer with us or a particular moment in time.

Plants that become heirlooms and are handed down become part of the home and a family's history. Studies have shown that inheriting plants and caring for them can provide a tangible sense of connection to family lineage, encouraging positive emotional well-being and a sense of belonging.

Growing Love is a new business based in county Limerick which is helping everyone to make living heirlooms from plants.

It was founded by Belgian native Helga Heylin, who told me: “When my own mother got very ill in Belgium and later passed away, I got great comfort, that I had plants here which she had tended to. Not a plant like them, but the very ones. There was something very nice about it, something healing.

"For me, this came about from bereavement but even when older people move and downsize, the fact that they can bring something from their garden and the continuity that this brings is very important.”

This started as a hobby, but it isn’t just a cute idea as there are really huge mental health benefits of these plants as reminders and connections.

“For me, it made sense when I started to read up on the benefits and they’re there” continued Helga. “We are really keen plantspeople, but this is where our many years of experience in psychology comes in too. We love it when feel-good things also make convincing scientific sense and everything just fits together.”

Different plants and flowers carry different meanings, roses for example, are classic symbols of love, and many families have rose bushes that were planted by a grandparent or great-grandparent.

Not surprisingly, because of its strong scent, Lavender is often associated with peace and relaxation.

The indoor plant, Christmas Cactus which is known for its bright blooms during the winter and is very easy to grow and propagate, is often passed down through generations. Because it flowers around Christmas, it tends to become associated with family gatherings and traditions.

Fruit trees like apple, pear and plum trees, are another type of plant which tend to be meaningful and filled with memories whether it's because of their sheer presence in the garden or because of the crop that they provide.

Whilst I certainly wouldn’t advise attempting to move a mature tree from any garden it is nice to take a baby from it.

Many plants can be propagated through cuttings or seeds, allowing multiple family members to grow a version of the original plant. This is especially important when it may be a plant from a parent or a grandparent.

At Growing Love they will propagate the plant in question from a cutting and nurture it until it is ready to be sent back to you.

As we near the Christmas period, it's apt now to think of these plants as living reminders, as those departed will be never far from our thoughts and in a world where many heirlooms are static and unchanging, plants are more than just decorations, they are parts of the family story, constantly evolving with new leaves, blooms, and memories.