Plant Life

The local plant life featured in the Janice Cordova Garden of Well-Being promotes relaxation, healing, and transcendence. We invite you to explore and learn more about the plants and their benefits.

 

Relaxation

Orange flowers in garden
When you relax, you activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows your heart rate, decreases your blood pressure, and lowers stress. Relaxation can also improve blood sugar, mood, concentration, and sleep. You can relax by simply sitting quietly in the garden and looking at the beautiful nature around you. When taking in your surroundings, you can relax even more fully by focusing on your breathing, pulse, or feelings of warmth.

  • Bush Anemone
  • California Buckwheat
  • California Currant
  • California Primrose: The herb is known to have a diuretic function and can suppress both skeletal and smooth muscle pain. (Moore, 2003)
  • Campfire Crassula Capitella
  • Carex
  • Chalk Dudleya
  • Channel Islands Tree Poppy
  • Christmas Pride
  • Coast Dudleya
  • Common Yarrow: The cleaned, soft leaves have been used to press into open wounds to stop bleeding and relieve some of the pain. This is due to yarrow's vulnerary, styptic, and anesthetic properties. (Nyerges, 1999)
  • Desert Globemallow
  • Desert Marigold
  • Donkey's Tail
  • Echeveria
  • Fortnight Lily
  • Green‐Leaved Euryops
  • Island Snapdragon
  • Japanese Maple
  • Lemonade Berry
  • Mexican Bird of Paradise
  • Milkweed
  • Orange Yarrow
  • Powdery Dudleya
  • Queen Victoria Agave
  • Santa Barbara Daisy
  • Shining Pink Rock Purslane
  • Spiral Aloe  
  • Split Rock
  • Western Chamomile: Has been used to make teas with its fragrant leaves and flowers to treat upset stomach and stomach pain, among other conditions. (Foster & Hobbs, 2002)
  • Western Redbud
  • White Bower Vine
  • Wormwood
  • Yankee Point California Lilac

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Foster, & Hobbs, C. (2002). A field guide to Western medicinal plants and herbs. Houghton Mifflin Co.

Moore. (2003). Medicinal plants of the mountain West (1st rev. and expanded ed.). Museum of New Mexico Press.

Nyerges, C. (1999). Guide to Wild Foods and Useful Plants. Chicago Review Press.

 

Healing

Purple flowers in garden
Immersion in nature can improve physical well-being. Nature therapy, or ecotherapy, can strengthen the immune, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. In many countries, people have a practice of “forest bathing” in order to experience physical and mental well-being. Forest bathing can lower cortisol levels and allow the brain and body to release stress.

  • California Ash
  • California Holly: Has been used in leaf and bark tea for stomachaches and other aches and pains, and as a wash for infected wounds. (Foster & Hobbs, 2002)
  • California Primrose
  • Cedros Island Verbena
  • Cleveland Sage: Has been used to make a lukewarm tea or tincture to treat sore throats. (Moore, 2003)
  • Desert Willow: Known to have antifungal and antibacterial properties. Flowers have been used as tea or poultice to treat coughs; powdered plant parts have been used on fungal or bacterial skin inflammation. (Foster & Hobbs, 2002)
  • Everett's Choice
  • Foothill Penstemon
  • Ginkgo Biloba
  • Hollyleaf Cherry
  • Indian Mallow
  • Lavender
  • Lilac Verbena
  • White Sage: Sages are complex plants with a variety of physiologic effects, including increasing or decreasing sweating and salivation or secretions in the sinuses depending on the temperature of the preparation. (Moore, 2003)

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Foster, & Hobbs, C. (2002). A field guide to Western medicinal plants and herbs. Houghton Mifflin Co.

Moore. (2003). Medicinal plants of the mountain West (1st rev. and expanded ed.). Museum of New Mexico Press.

 

Transcendence

Yellow flower close up in garden

There is an inherent human urge to connect with other forms of life, including plants. Many point out that spending time in nature enhances creativity, learning, satisfaction with life, and generosity. Nature can also generate a sense of wonder and awe from experiencing something bigger than ourselves. As you look at nature around you, you may feel inspired.

  • Black Elder 
  • California Wildrose
  • Carex
  • Douglas Iris
  • Lavender
  • Magnolia
  • Manzanita: Contains arbutin, which has been known to give the plant disinfecting qualities. (Moore, 2003)
  • Scarlet Trumpet Vine
  • Wendy Coral Bells
  • Woolly Bluecurls

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Foster, & Hobbs, C. (2002). A field guide to Western medicinal plants and herbs. Houghton Mifflin Co.

Moore. (2003). Medicinal plants of the mountain West (1st rev. and expanded ed.). Museum of New Mexico Press.