[Gardening/ Farming 원예/ 농사] How to enjoy summer without leaving your home 바캉스없이 여름 즐기는 법

sarahsong (43)in #gardening • 2 years ago (edited)

Summer is the season for vacation. Many reports say taking vacation time is critical and even can save your life. A global research by the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 745,000 people died in 2016 from stroke and heart disease due to long working hours and since the COVID-19 pandemic, this might have worsened. The research says working 55 hours or more a week was associated with a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from heart disease than 35 to 40 hours a week. Taking vacation, they say, can reduce stress, increase mindfulness, boost brainpower, lift your mood and make you more productive and creative.

Taking vacation, though, can be expensive and sometimes time-consuming for its planning and proper execution. Especially, the current inflation, the highest in four decades, may prohibit many people from taking one this summer. Also, taking vacation either by a car or a plane involves energy consumption, which contributes to damaging the environment. Environmental crisis is what no one can ignore any more. The 2022 summer heat wave has been killing people and causing wildfires across Europe and the U.S. Worse, scientists say this could be the coolest summer of the rest of your life.

Then, what can you do with this dilemma of ‘taking a vacation in summer or not’? My answer is to grow hibiscus. Every morning hibiscus’ new, bright and beautiful blossoms will enchant you, which lifts up your mood. The withered flowers of yesterday will remind you of being mortal, which makes you humble and mindful. With the petals of the withered flowers, you can make morning tea, which gives you health and beauty. Even western medical doctors support the health benefits of hibiscus tea, which includes lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, promoting weight loss and beauty with antioxidants, fighting inflammation and bacteria, boosting liver health and so on.

Korea, my native country, has hibiscus syriacus, called the rose of Sharon in the Bible, as the national flower. In Korean, it is called mugunghwa, of which mugung means "eternity" or "inexhaustible abundance" and hwa means flower. Once you grow hibiscus and see flowers bloom endlessly through summer, you will know how suitable this name is. From time immemorial, Koreans have used its leaves and flowers for herbal teas and its stems and roots for making papers. These days, lots of beauty products from hibiscus flowers, such as hibiscus oil for skin or hair, firming creams and moisturizer, are advertised and sold as well.

Hibiscus gives the inexhaustible abundance of not only flowers but also seeds. From seeds, you can grow new hibiscus, which can be precious gifts for someone you care for. Don’t worry, even if you don’t have a lot to grow hibiscus. You can still grow one in a planting pot as long as you have a sunny spot in your space. You may collect its flowers and leaves and brew teas or make cocktails for a summer party. On a hot, long summer day, you may try to make hibiscus hair oil to make your hair lustrous or prevent your hair from being bald or gray.
With hibiscus, your summer at home will be too short.