As I work on our April Green Issue — devoted to eco-friendly, sustainable travel — my thoughts turn to the living, breathing green plants that are so beneficial to our planet. Since it’s February and snow blankets my dormant gardens, I yearn for everything green and growing.

I begin to look for crocuses popping up around mid-February — it’s been known to happen — though they probably won’t appear until mid-March. I also start listening for the call of red-winged blackbirds, which sometimes arrive this month, depending on the weather and whatever other instincts drive migration.

The winter gloom doesn’t rule out some delightful diversions, however. True, I may crave sunshine and warmth and dream of escaping to a lush tropical island — Tahiti set me swooning as I edited our March Kicking Back article about the Polynesian paradise — but I’m digging into some simpler local pleasures.

This is the month I start to visit local greenhouses and think about what to plant this spring. Two weeks ago, after a Valentine’s Day lunch with my husband, I suggested we visit Woodland Gardens, a local greenhouse where we could walk off our lunch in a tranquil oasis of greenery. Although it’s too soon for outdoor flowers and plants, it was a pleasure to roam aisle after aisle of houseplants — everything from feathery Boston ferns to leathery snake plants to the fronds of tropical palms — breathing in the earthy aromas and luxuriating in air as humid as a rainforest. And there was more than greenery — I was drawn to a beautiful display of cyclamen in reds, pinks and magentas, the first dose of colorful flowers seen this season.

More and more cities support outdoor green spaces in urban planning, but they’re not always accessible in winter. Wherever you live — or travel — there’s bound to be a greenhouse or conservatory where you can shed the winter blahs and dream of spring. More hotels incorporate “living walls” or “vertical gardens” in their lobbies or other public areas. And some airports, such as Singapore’s Changi Airport, incorporate serene havens of greenery for travelers to enjoy.

You might find a flower and garden show where you can take in the beauty and get ideas for your own garden. In my area, the Connecticut Flower & Garden Show took place this past weekend, and the Philadelphia Flower Show will run March 2–10. Seattle, Minneapolis, Dallas and Boston list among other U.S. cities sporting annual flower shows. If you’re lucky enough to be in London this spring, the Chelsea Flower Show — a long-time item on my bucket list — will be in full bloom May 21–25.

You don’t need to be a master gardener or horticulturalist to appreciate the natural beauty and benefits of plants. And a number of studies link indoor plants to reductions in stress, fatigue and illness. Plants increase oxygen and clear out toxins for cleaner breathing air. They can help absorb benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde, common irritants found in indoor environments due to the chemical components of foam insulation, carpeting, paints, dyes, plastics, varnishes and cleaning products. Surround yourself with toxin-absorbing plants like English ivy, peace lily, weeping fig, chrysanthemum, gerbera daisies, spider plants, poinsettia and philodendron, and breathe a little easier.

— Jan Hecht, senior editor