A couple of winters ago, I started a little series called Beat Winter SAD as a way to get myself (and hopefully you) through the darkest months of the year. Because let’s be honest, January in Toronto can feel… a lot. Short days, long nights, grey everything. So I’m bringing it back, and we’re starting with one of my favourite winter mood boosters: indoor gardens. Yesterday, my friend Holly and I took advantage of a freakishly warm January day (12 degrees in Toronto?! We’ll take it!) and spent the afternoon wandering through Allan Gardens Conservatory. The second you step inside, it’s like your nervous system takes a huge exhale. It smells like summer and feels like vacation: sunlight filtering through glass, lush tropical plants everywhere, instant serotonin. The Science Behind A Botanical Gardens Visit Botanical gardens have higher humidity, which can help with dry winter skin, irritated sinuses, and that scratchy throat that sneaks up this time of year. Being surrounded by greenery has also been shown to reduce stress hormones, lower anxiety, and boost your mood. I can confirm this one for sure, I WAS FULL OF ENERGY AFTER. It’s a natural antidepressant: leaves from tropical plants release oxygen and moisture into the air, making the air feel fresher and easier to breathe. It totally reminded me of being down south in Mexico or the Caribbean; it feels like a mini-vacation without leaving downtown, buying a ticket, getting on a plane, or packing. Allan Gardens is especially magical. It’s free to visit, open year-round, and filled with little surprises. There’s a fountain bubbling away in the centre (made a wish!), vibrant flowers in full bloom, turtles hanging out, and we spotted a huge lemon growing on a lemon tree, which felt wildly optimistic for January. 🍋 Standing under palm…