I came across this quote the other day by John Muir, and it instantly resonated with me. Whenever I’m feeling anxious, or need to clear my head, I go outside. It’s a great way to hit the reset button during the day. Sometimes it’s just a 20 minute walk around my neighborhood park, sometimes longer, but the fresh air and sunshine seem to be an instant mood lifter and helpful problem solver.

Today, I decided to change it up and head over to the Missouri Botanical Gardens for an afternoon Spring stroll. The gardens are magical any time of the year, truly, even in Winter, and today, under the backdrop of a gray sky, it was beautiful, with bursts of vibrant color popping up everywhere and the sweet smell of the Magnolia trees in the air.

The only downside to exploring the gardens is I come home and want to re-landscape our entire yard, preferably in a beautiful circular pattern, with flowers like these.

I wish this photo was a scratch-and-sniff, so you could smell the fragrant blossoms from this Magnolia tree too. It has an instant calming effect.

So tell me, do you have a favorite outdoor spot you go to unwind and reset?

Happy Spring!

(All photos taken by Genevieve Barlow).