A Greene County Garden in May

By Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson

Gardeners lucky enough to have a fringe of woods, small or large, at the edge of their property can enjoy the luxury of forest bathing, if only in miniature. Known as shinrin-yoku (literally “forest bathing”) in Japan, this stress reliever can be as simple as a walk in the woods. Japanese research has shown that, in addition to increasing oxygen levels in the air around them, many trees and other plants exude “phytonicides,” essential oils that support immune health. This research may help explain why people feel so happy in the woods.

Insects and small animals enjoy a patch of woods, too. Butterfly larvae overwinter in bark or leaf litter. Birds nest in the trees and feast on insects and berries. Squirrels forage in the undergrowth. If ponds form in hollows, frogs may live in them.

The benefits of wooded areas don’t end there. Gardeners who protect and cultivate them help their communities and the natural environment as well as themselves.

Interlaced together, the root systems of trees and shrubs help stabilize the soil on slopes. Trees growing on the banks of rivers, streams and creeks can absorb large amounts of water, protecting nearby areas by reducing the impact of floods. Under the trees, earthworms, beetles and smaller insects break down fallen leaves and woody debris, mixing them into the soil and improving its texture so it can hold more water. This lush soil is a haven for mycorrhizae, a beneficial fungus which helps carry nutrients to the roots of trees and other plants, further improving the soil at the same time.

The symbiotic relationship among trees, mycorrhizae and soil organisms helps reduce global warming. In spring and summer, leaves draw carbon out of the atmosphere. Trees use this carbon to build the structure of their branches, trunks and root systems. Carbon in their extensive roots systems stays buried deep underground during the life of the tree and long afterward, keeping it out of the atmosphere where it would otherwise contribute to climate change. It’s easy to enjoy a thicket of trees and shrubs for its beauty alone, or for the delicious feeling we get from “bathing” in and breathing the air around them. And all the while, they are helping wildlife we may not even notice, the neighborhood we live in, and the health of our planet.