Cantrece Jones, owner of Aura Plant Studio, joined #GardenClubJax on August 22 to discuss the power of plant therapy and how even a novice plant owner can harness nature’s healing potential. Plant therapy—or horticulture therapy—allows people to interact with plants to reduce their anxiety and feel calmer. There is a deep genetic connection that human beings have with nature that makes them feel more at ease when they are interacting with it. Bringing more plants and greenery inside your home or gardening in your yard or patio can have a dramatic effect on your well-being.
Plants can ease anxiety and stress in many ways. From the simple act of caring and watering, to the practice of earthing or grounding. Grounding refers to the discovery that bodily contact with the Earth’s natural electric charge stabilizes physiology at the deepest levels, reduces inflammation, pain, and stress, improves blood flow, energy, and sleep, and generates greater well-being. Plants in your diet are also a great way to improve your health, and they do not have to be complex! Just using simple herbs as a seasoning can be a benefit to your health. Finally, Cantrece touched on aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from plants for healing. Although the word “aroma” makes it sound as if the oils are inhaled, they can also be massaged into the skin to be absorbed.
Guests enjoyed drinks from a bar and had the opportunity to buy from a beautiful range of plants from Aura Plant Studios to take home after the program.
Cantrece Jones and Aura Plant Studio
Cantrece Jones is the president of Acuity Design Group (ADG). She cultivated her favorite hobby into a new business, Aura Plant Studio, where she not only sells beautiful plants but also lends her space to others who don’t have a storefront to allow them to promote their products. Cantrece not only sells beautiful, exotic plants but she also provides guidance on plant care, and plant therapy. Jones currently serves as a member of the American Planning Association’s Jacksonville and Atlanta Chapters. She is an active board member of the Winston Family YMCA, Jacksonville Humane Society, Jacksonville Community Land Trust, the Cathedral District, and the HCA Market Advisory Board. Additionally, she conducts marketing strategies and branding workshops for entrepreneurs through the Small Business Administration, the city of Jacksonville, Broward County, and more. Jones has a bachelor’s degree in communications and graphic design from the University of North Florida. She has lived and worked in the Jacksonville area for more than 20 years. Her military upbringing has allowed her to travel and live in many places around the globe. She enjoys cycling, gardening, and traveling with her husband (and her two fur babies).
