It may not feel like spring is here, but that doesn't mean you can't fake it. Blooming flowers and planting seeds are a sign of warmer weather, but if you can't start gardening in soggy March, it might be a good time to start keeping some plants and flowers in your home.
And it's not just a matter of aesthetics — flowers can change your entire mood.
Gardener Denis Flanagan of Landscape Ontario, who will be at this year's flower and garden festival Canada Blooms, says scents have the power to alter the way we feel. There's a reason why our senses light up when we see fresh flowers in a room, especially if we're feeling upset.
According to a Live Science, flowers also act as mood manipulators. In a 2011 experiment by Rutgers University, researchers found people who smelled flowers felt happier and were more likely to interact with other people.
If you want to grow your own garden, you can start cleaning and seeding lawns in mid-April, Flanagan says. "We can start planting flowers and vegetables by mid-May [in Ontario], while the west coast is usually a month ahead."
And if you're not sure what to plant, some plants and flowers are definitely worth your money. Roses, for example, which may be costly depending on the type you buy, can last forever.
Here are Flanagan's tips on the best flowers and plants to keep in your home -- whether you're looking for ways to be more passionate in the bedroom or need a scent to help you destress:
