‘Flower Power’
National Garden Clubs Inc. Members Help
Health-Care Facilities, Special-Needs Centers Nationwide
Establish Healing Gardens and Horticultural Therapy Projects
 

      ST. LOUIS -- When residents of Lee Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Pennington Gap, Va., roll their wheelchairs into the courtyard, they are greeted not only by a spirit-lifting purple-and-yellow array of flowers and herbs, but also by comforting scents. In fact, the garden boasts several varieties of lavender, a plant in the mint family that is known for the calming effects of its aroma. The lavender sometimes extends onto the garden pathways; when wheelchairs roll over the leaves or stems, unexpected bursts of scent are released and enjoyed.

      The garden at Lee Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is just one example of a growing nationwide trend toward extending various types of garden or horticultural therapy into healthcare settings, senior facilities and beyond, according to Barbara D. May, president of National Garden Clubs Inc., a not-for-profit volunteer organization that is the largest of its type in the world. In fact, May says that NGC members also have introduced garden therapy projects into a variety of other settings, including schools, prisons and community gardens for people with special needs. She estimates that thousands of garden therapy projects are being implemented by NGC members into their communities coast-to-coast. Some examples include:

      --In Frederick, Md., members of the Tasker’s Chance Garden Club teach gardening skills to developmentally challenged students at Frederick High School.

      --Garden clubs in Raleigh, N.C., have established a tactile and fragrance garden at a local school for the visually impaired.

      --Members of the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut have instituted garden therapy programs at veterans hospitals in their area.

      “Our members recognize through personal experience the healing effects of working with plants and absorbing all of the sights, smells and sounds of a garden, indoor or outdoor, whatever the season,” says May. “It’s not at all surprising that our myriad garden therapy projects have attracted so much interest nationwide, and that garden therapy has become one of our most inspiring service-oriented programs.”

      To assist would-be garden therapists throughout the U.S., a 45-member team of NGC members and outside experts compiled information and ideas for a variety of garden and horticultural therapy projects. The result was the publication in 2001 of the informative and inspirational 231-page book, “Horticultural Therapy: A Guide For All Seasons,” edited by Martha R. DeHart and Joan R. Brown. The book has sold more than 6,000 copies, primarily to NGC members, but is available for $14.95, plus shipping and handling, to the entire community. Ordering information is available on the NGC Web site at www.gardenclub.org.

A Therapeutic Garden Springs To ‘Life’

      The Lee Nursing and Rehabilitation Center healing garden was conceived by Ann Life, a retired nurse practitioner who is NGC garden therapy chairman for the southwest district of the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs and Lee County garden club member in the State (Commonwealth) of Virginia. Through her years of work in health and patient care—and coincidentally as her name suggests—Life became a firm believer in the therapeutic effects of regular interaction with nature’s bounty of plants and flowers.

      At the center, garden club members involve residents with the garden in many ways, from making lavender sachets to deadheading flowers. The garden also includes a culinary herb section, enabling the center’s cooks to use “homegrown” basil, rosemary, parsley and chives in food preparation for the residents. “The sights, smells and tastes of the gardens delight the residents and inspire memories of their own home gardens,” says Life.

      In keeping with NGC’s emphasis on environmental responsibility, Lee County Garden Club members promote organic, eco-friendly practices at the center and avoid all pesticides. During the planning stage, garden club members sought guidance form Harold Jerrell, unit coordinator and agricultural extension agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, and noted area horticulturist and photographer.

      Laurie Hawkins, activity director for Lee Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, says the residents eagerly anticipate the frequent visits by garden club members and have a great sense of accomplishment from their own efforts in the garden.

      “The nursing home courtyard once offered few opportunities for our residents,” Hawkins says. “Now, the garden offers a variety of therapeutic benefits and holds something special for each resident.”

      National Garden Clubs Inc., founded in 1929, has more than 209,000 members and 6,300 member clubs across the U.S. The organization’s garden therapy program was successfully launched in the 1940s to help veterans hospitals rehabilitate the thousands of injured or disabled soldiers returning from World War II combat.