Hello Hive travelers, today I will share with you our new findings on our travels - Garden Cafés. We bet that pandemic times thought us a thing or two about the importance of green spaces. Even before COVID entered our daily lives, there were many kinds of research done on the love relationship between plants and humans. Even without the fancy studies, most of us know that being close to a living plant feels good. Unfortunately, everyone doesn’t have time to care for plants nor the conditions. Nevertheless, there is a solution for all who want to enjoy a green presence. It is called Garden Café and here I will explain to you, why this should be your next coffee spot.
What is a Garden Café?
It is exactly what it sounds like. A Café filled with plants and designed as a garden place where you can enjoy your beverage. Of course, living vegetation is a must, yet we have found some Garden Cafés that opted for convenient artificial greenery instead. Needless to say, plastic plants are a hazard to health and the planet, so they shouldn’t be used extensively. Or at all. Living flora is what makes Garden Café a place for your morning coffee. There are as many types of Garden Cafés as there are plants.
Our Garden Café Experiences
Without fail, we felt an energy boost happen even before we finished our coffee. Maybe the secret lies in the unique atmosphere. Although, simply looking at the vegetation feels good. It doesn’t matter if the plants are potted or growing from the ground. Of course, the outdoor garden has its perks. Think in terms of playful butterflies and chatty birds.
We sure loved them with a light breeze in the shaded garden at the Museum of the Floral Culture. That doesn’t mean that indoor garden cafés aren’t enchanting. Sure they are! When we saw the bottle garden collection at Dan Café in Penang, we had to take a tour before sitting down. We could go on with more stunning places, but what matters is the movement. Hopefully, more people will reconnect with mother nature.
Do Plants Affect People?
The short answer is yes. There have been many studies to support this claim. Arguably the most important finding is that flowers and living greens increase positive energy. As a consequence of that, we get happier and more relaxed, which leads to lowered stress levels. Equally important as general well-being is how plants impact the air quality. Back in 1989 NASA made a famous experiment on air purifying indoor plants and proved that different plants clean different toxins from the air. In addition to removing harmful chemicals from the air, plants convert carbon dioxide into fresh oxygen through photosynthesis. We can have a debate on how many plants you need for the effect, but we say better some than none.
Final Thought
We all know it; being in nature is good for the mind and the body. However, when that isn’t possible, we can enjoy the green company at home. Potted plants can be happy and help us cross the bridge to a better tomorrow. Nowadays, it seems that we are at a crossroads. Eighter, we follow the path of natural laws or try the parallel world in years to come. Garden Cafés are a fantastic example of both. They can serve as a place where human creativity can be tested, while new knowledge opens a door into a neglected universe. To end this post, please check our blog in the future and see the reviews of garden cafes we have visited.
