Health & Wellness
Connect With Nature,
Help Improve Your Health,
at Naples Botanical Garden
BY
ROBIN F.
DEMATTIA
A
walk through the park can
be more than an enjoyable
afternoon stroll. The warmth
of the sun, fragrant air, bursts of color from
flowers and plants, and exercise can increase physical fitness, boost your immune
system, decrease tension and relieve mental health stress.
“Access to nature has been related to
lower levels of mortality and illness, higher
levels of outdoor physical activity, restoration from stress, a greater sense of wellbeing and greater social capital,” according
to the American Public Health Association,
which promotes green exercise, personal
and community gardening and naturebased play and recreation.
One great local spot to enjoy the outdoors is Naples Botanical Garden, with 170
acres of plants, water features, a cafe, a gift
shop and lots of education programs. The
non-profit garden was founded in 1993
and reopened in 2009 after completing
the first phase of an extensive master plan.
The garden’s mission statement is: Connecting people with plants by conserving
and researching the biological diversity of
our collections and ecosystems; engaging
our visitors in learning about plants, gar-
16
November 2016 - March 2017