🌿Beautifying Our Spaces – One Garden at a Time

We all know the importance of reducing stress, but did you know your environment can play a powerful role in this? Surrounding yourself with beauty and order not only lifts your mood but also reduces stress and inspires you to improve your own space. A tidy home, garden, or neighbourhood brings mental clarity and joy. It makes you want to be there—and to keep making it better.

Being in nature is deeply healing. Studies show that beautiful, organised environments lead to improved happiness, motivation, and well-being. When we beautify our surroundings, whether indoors or outdoors, we foster a ripple effect in our communities.

As highlighted by Hoodgoods, spending your money in your own neighbourhood uplifts the local economy. This, in turn, improves the appearance of homes, gardens, and shopping centres. When your neighbour revamps their space, it inspires you to do the same. And once your own garden blooms, you may find the desire to beautify community spaces, too.

That’s exactly what Lesley Meyer has set out to do.

🌼 The Clubview Post Office Garden Project

Disturbed by the neglected parks and public spaces in her neighbourhood, Lesley decided to start small, beautifying a forgotten corner of the Clubview Post Office using her own indigenous plants. These plants, adapted to local conditions, require minimal water and support local biodiversity.

The project is split into four phases. Phase one is now complete. Lesley carried buckets of water herself, since there’s no on-site tap, and planted:

• Pienk Salie bush
• Dietes grandiflora
• River Indigo shrub
• Yellow & purple vygies
• Daisy bushes
• Slime lilies
• Preserved: existing aloes (which feed the Honey bird)

These indigenous species attract bees, feed birds, and create balance in the micro-ecosystem. Over the coming weeks, Lesley plans to finish the remaining phases, transforming this neglected area into a haven for wildlife and people.

🐦 Why Indigenous Plants Matter

Unlike exotic ornamentals, indigenous plants support local birds, bees, and biodiversity. Many species need specific plants for food, nesting, and survival. By planting a variety of indigenous flowering shrubs and bushes, you create a healthy ecosystem, one that may even become self-sustaining over time, with mushrooms and other signs of natural balance emerging.

Lesley’s message is clear: You don’t need to fix everything, just start with what you can. Your front yard, pavement, or even a public corner can become a sanctuary for both people and wildlife.