Whenever I trip over a bump or crack in the middle of a road

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Or my inner voice gets drowned out by the blaring racket of screeching tires and the angry hollering of horns

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And my mind foggy like smog from a tailpipe,

 

I just step outside,

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Fill my lungs with fresh air,

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And fill my eyes with the sight of nature

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Colorful roses, lilacs, and tulips on every corner,

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Squirrels playfully running,

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Water flowing through rocks and continuing its journey down the stream

 

Without sounding like Niagara Falls,

 

The air filled with sentimental songs that can melt frost into dew

 

Sung by the voices of birds harmonizing with one another,

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And the gentle breeze brushing against my face

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Refreshing my mind like a cool shower of rain in the middle of June

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And soothing my body

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Relieving the pain like Aloe vera

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A place never to be erased ​from the face of the Earth

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A picture in my mind never to be forgotten

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A painting not made with paint

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Created by the hearts who care the most​ 

 

To keep that art clean

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Nature is more than just nature

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But also a medicine

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Prescribed for everyone living on this planet

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Of green and blue​​​

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These are some pictures I took at Descanso Gardens. Using my senses of sight, hearing, touch, and smell enhances my experience of being outdoors, which makes every visit to the gardens enjoyable and takes my mind off my worries. I think nature is one of the many things we should never take for granted because disasters such as wildfires, floods, and droughts (the dark side of nature) can occur at any time, specifically times when we don't expect them to happen. With the ongoing concern of climate change, I believe that we should enjoy the colorful and tranquil beauty of nature while it still lasts. As long as many of us care enough to keep our planet alive and well, nature will continue to thank us by showing us its good side, giving us more sights, sounds, and scents to medicate our mental health and soothe the pain of our stress.

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