Plant friends, we are changing things up. We're taking a detour from our typical long-form content to introduce a new format — mini-episodes — taken from our rich conversations. These episodes are meant to be your bite-sized lessons about how to use nature to bring joy into your life. And in this first episode, inspired by our recent interview on aromatic gardening, we’re going to talk about 5 practical steps to incorporate scent into our daily routines.

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:26] What these mini-episodes are about
• [01:18] Why smell is important for memory and stress relief
• [02:39] #1 Going for a restorative post-rain walk
• [03:21] #2 Utilizing essential oils
• [03:59] Different ways to diffuse essential oils
• [04:43] Some essential oils and plants you can use!
• [06:04] #3 Growing scented plants (if you’re not into oils)
• [08:06] #4 Interplanting aromatic plants with edible plants
• [08:39] #5 Making yourself a mini bouquet

Order my book!

Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,

so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!

Five Easy Ways to Use Scents to Grow Joy

1. Going for a restorative post-rain walk: There's something about the smell of petrichor, the earthy scent that's released after it rains, that's just so refreshing. So next time it rains, put on your boots and go for a walk! 
2. Utilizing essential oils: You can diffuse essential oils with a humidifier, oil diffuser, or reed sticks. Different essential oils have different effects, so you can choose one that's perfect for your mood – for example, hinoki oil can be energizing, while lavender oil is calming. 
3. Growing scented plants: If you don’t like essential oils, you can always have plants with nice smells both inside and outside your home. Some popular options include hoya, scented geraniums, and herbs like basil (my favorite), mint, and lavender. 
4. Interplanting aromatic plants with edible plants: Planting herbs and flowers like lavender, chamomile, and rosemary with your vegetables and fruits can make gardening a pleasant and calming experience. 
5. Making yourself a mini bouquet: Mama Failla used to line the entrance to our house with lavender. She would cut a bouquet of lavender, tie a ribbon on it, and put it on our car dashboard for long road trips. The lavender would heat up and fill the car with its scent. You can do the same with other scented plants to make your commute more enjoyable!

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria