Question: I know that I feel better after spending time in my garden, but has there been any "official" reasearch on this topic?

Answer: Yes. Researchers have found that exposure to plants has been shown to reduce the amount of time spent in a hospital after surgery as well as reduce patients' requests for pain killers. In a study at the Sloan-Kettering Institute, breast cancer surgery patients gathered their strength faster, increased their ability to focus attention, and reduced their depression, merely by walking regularly in a garden. In areas other than medicine, research shows that working with and handling plants lowers blood pressure, eases the feelings of stress, and generally makes us feel better. Not only are we enriched by the beauty, growing a healthy houseplant gives us a sense of control over our lives, and a sense of reward as the plant thrives. These results are so positive that plant care is now used in all types of physical therapy. Time and time again, research shows that merely being exposed to plants calms us and produces a positive energy, making us more efficient and less frantic.