MY WORK as a horticultural therapist bifurcates into two distinct tasks at every facility or residential site that employs me. On the one hand, I develop and implement programming tailored to a specific population’s or individual’s needs. On the other hand, I design and install—sometimes with the help of clients, sometimes not— therapeutic gardens to be enjoyed by my clients, their families and the staff .
When I design such spaces, I lean into the guidelines for therapeutic gardens developed by the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA), the national professional organization of horticultural therapists. Of the seven guidelines, three offer ideas and elements that can make any residential garden more pleasing and meaningful. Here are those three principles:
PROFUSION OF PLANTS AND PEOPLE/PLANT INTERACTIONS
In my therapeutic garden designs, I’ve been struck by how different individuals encountering the same garden space at the same time of year will be gobsmacked by completely different
In one garden that I installed at a mental-health rehabilitation center, I would bring clients along a path that rounded a gentle bend before revealing the first full view of the nearest section of the garden.
I had one client who, upon first glimpsing the garden one spring, was smitten with a California native penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Blue Springs’).
Bu hikaye Horticulture dergisinin November - December 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Horticulture dergisinin November - December 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Around the World With Herbs
Looking beyond familiar mediterranean favorites, we can find flavor in the tropics
RIBWORT PLANTAIN
Before you call it a weed, consider its many talents
JARED BARNES - Propagating gardeners
JARED BARNES is an award-winning professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. He also hosts The Plantastic Podcast and publishes a weekly e-newsletter called plant ed, both of which can be found at his website, https://www.meristemhorticulture.com. At home, he gardens with wife Karen and daughter Magnolia.
FILMS WITH FLOWERS
Relax with an uplifting garden-themed movie
TOTAL TOMATO GROWING GUIDE
Niki Jabbour's advice for making the most of this grow-at-home favorite
HANGDOG NO MORE
I'M A CURIOUS and impetuous guy. Good at thinking but terrible at remembering. And dammit if I'm not impatient.
LOOKING AHEAD
A colorful, fruitful summer follows winter's well-used days
NEW PLANTS
Pollinator Favorites
PLANTS from PIECES
ALL ABOUT PROPAGATION BY STEM, LEAF & ROOT CUTTINGS
FULL SUN FOLIAGE
IT'S A BIT MORE CHALLENGING THAN IN THE SHADE, BUT WE CAN FIND DELIGHTFUL LEAVES TO EMBELLISH SUNNY SPACES