More Colours of Winter

A note on forest bathing

Captured at Tosh, a spirited village nestled in the Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

I’ve always noticed how serene and calm it is in the vicinity of a green place. A bamboo grove, a field of mustard, a quaint garden, a deserted jungle-y corner plot, a sprawling nursery, wherever neighbours have draped fragrant and lush climbers around their homes, a roadside pavement bursting with dandelions, a majestic dark green foliaged fig smug with vivid red fruits, a small piece of earth draped by oxalis. Anything works for me. Works wonders. I’m just happy to revel in what I believe as miracles.

The 1980s Japan was the origin of a physiological and psychological exercise called shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing” or “taking in the forest atmosphere”).

The purpose was twofold: to offer an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout and to inspire residents to reconnect with and protect the country’s forests. The Japanese quickly embraced this form of ecotherapy. In the 1990s, researchers began studying the physiological benefits of forest bathing, providing the science to support what we innately know: time spent immersed in nature is good for us.
Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/forest-bathing-nature-walk-health

Here are some shots from my teatime with mother nature, I enjoyed noticing each one of them.

Butterflies on lantanas. Lantana is one of my favourite wild shrubs, a must-have for any pollinator friendly area. I was too excited to frame a sensible angle :P

A busy bee

Tiger-eye violas making an arresting appearance in the garden

Birds and squirrels enjoy treats on our garden wall. The striking green fellow is a brown-headed barbet waiting for the male cuckoo to finish eating. A Rufous treepie is also eyeing the scene

Cotton tree, Bombax malabaricum in spring. The red pigment extracted from its brilliant flowers is used to make ‘abir’, a coloured organic powder used in Holi celebration

Closer to earth, wildflowers jostling with sweet alyssium

A vision in winter. Persian lilac tree with clusters of golden fruits adorning the bare branches

Time spent in nature is time realizing that you don’t know it all, that you never will. The earth is meant to be enjoyed by its inhabitants.
Abdul’Rauf Hashmi

Spending time in nature is a rewarding experience…

It has vividly enriched my life.

“I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it.” — Shakespeare

If you liked my essay, you might enjoy:

Nine Reasons We're Grateful to Live on Earth

Bronwen Scott shares his experience with feisty rainbows:

Wrapped in a Rainbow

John Brantingham has an eye for the precious:

A Meditation on Dogwoods

I have mixed feelings for Snappy too… Gauri Sirur touches a serious issue of animal rights:

Should Alligators Have To Be Ambassadors?

Few of my recent essays:

Some Colours of Winter

From a winter walk in a nursery

A nature walk is perfect for starting the day

Photos © Shreyasi

Thank you for reading :)