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Nature Break: Make A Floating Flower Mandala

Overview 106 Lovely Attendees
Jessica murnane headshot
Your Host

Jessica Murnane

Founder at Basker.

Charleston, SC, USA

I’m an author, horticultural therapy practitioner, and designer. I’m the founder of Basker, where I help people use gardening and nature for well-being, host the nature and pop culture podcast, Inside + Outside, and wrote the books One Part Plant and Know Your Endo. My work has appeared in Bon Appétit, Goop, People, and Shape Magazine, among others.

About this FieldTrip

Most of us have heard that connecting to nature can help us feel better. But WHY? And HOW (especially if you don’t consider yourself an “outdoor person” or have access to it)?

In this hands-on workshop, we’ll cover how nature-based activities can help with social well-being, managing stress, boosting creativity, creating a deeper connection to self, and giving your brain a little break aka less scrolling (with some cool research to back it up)

And then we’ll put it into practice by making floating flower mandalas together – a simple, creative, and “inside” way to start connecting more to the “outside.”


Agenda

  • First up, you’ll be asked to think about your first nature memory or a meaningful experience with nature. These questions might bring up some interesting memories to share (or to keep to yourself). 

  • Next, I’ll dive into a brief overview of the history of horticultural therapy, the benefits that can come from interacting with nature, why our culture is moving further away from this, and easy ways we can start connecting more (even if you don’t ever want to garden or don’t consider yourself an “outdoor person”). 

  • Then we’ll put into practice with a nature-based activity (making floating flower mandalas).  

  • Last, you can show off what you made! No pressure, of course. But research shows even just looking at flowers can help our brains feel happier and so many of us could use a little more “happy” right now. 


What to know or bring

  • 1. Shallow bowl around 2 inches high and 10-12 inches wide (no holes). You can use something you have in your kitchen (shallow salad/serving bowl) or a plant saucer (the thing you put under plants to catch water) you already have. It can be terra cotta, ceramic, plastic...whatever you've got.  

  • 2. A pitcher, jug, vase, or giant glass of water to fill your bowl. 

  • 3. A pair of scissors or snips. 

  • 4. A few handfuls of flowers, foliage, herbs, or leaves. Choose one or two big blooms and then an assortment of small-medium sized plant matter. Gather things from your neighborhood/yard and/or grab some blooms from a grocery store (if you have a Trader's Joe's nearby, they always have a super affordable bouquets) or a flower shop. No need to get fancy, just choose things you love and make you happy to look at. 


What to expect

Workshop format!

A hands-on session where participants get to build, craft, or create something tangible.

It will be recorded!

The recording will be shared within 24 hours in the follow up email for a 4-day window, and available at the top of this page. Make sure to register for access!

Learn more about FieldTrips

Jessica murnane headshot
Your Host

Jessica Murnane

Founder at Basker.

Charleston, SC, USA

About Jessica Murnane

I’m an author, horticultural therapy practitioner, and designer. I’m the founder of Basker, where I help people use gardening and nature for well-being, host the nature and pop culture podcast, Inside + Outside, and wrote the books One Part Plant and Know Your Endo. My work has appeared in Bon Appétit, Goop, People, and Shape Magazine, among others.


Attendees

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How to make the most of FieldTrips

The FieldTrips experience is defined not only by what the host has to share, but also by how we show up individually and collectively. The way we show up impacts our capacity to be moved, inspired, and activated.

Show up fully

Get ready to be immersed! Engage with smiles, nods, waves, emojis. Share in the chat. Get cozy. Turn off notifications. Sip your favorite beverage.

Stay curious

Wear your beginner’s hat. Go with the flow. Welcome the stumbles and fumbles. Congratulate yourself for trying. Keep going! 

Celebrate your host

Our hosts are members of the CreativeMornings community—just like you! Everyone comes to this with different backgrounds—a lot of our hosts have never done anything like this before! And we love that! Cheer them on when something goes awry and when it goes perfectly.

Support each other

We’re all figuring things out in real time. Celebrate, rather than critique emerging ideas. Cheer each other on as you try new things.  Try “Yes! And…” in conversation.

Not vibing?

It’s 100% okay when a FieldTrip does not resonate with you. Pop out quietly and try another experience later. Fill out the survey with your feedback (no dms to host or chat commentary, please.)