The Power of the Garden

Healing Gardens are close to my heart for many reasons which for most I won't get into here, but for other reasons it is really great to hear about gardens that are for those of us who are sick or injured. These are gardens with large enough paths for wheelchairs and some can even have raised garden beds so those in wheelchairs can pick produce or smell flowers. Some gardens have plants that are full of texture for feeling with hands, or vivid colors, or great smells. I want my garden to incorporate all that plus a bunch more!

My dream (which will come true) is to create a healing garden at a childrens hospital (some hospitals already have these gardens) for sweet babies and kids (and all hospital patients) who are sick and who spend most days inside the hospital. Wouldn't it be great to have a garden on the hospital property where families, patients, doctors, nurses, etc., can enjoy flowers, trees, the birds chirping, the bees buzzing and the fresh air!!

One day soon, this will come true!

More on this later but in the meantime, enjoy some information on this topic.

What is a healing garden?

Based on research by Ulrich and others, it could be argued that any garden is a healing garden. However, for the purposes of this article, we refer to Eckerling's definition of a healing garden: "a garden in a healing setting designed to make people feel better" (Eckerling, 1996). The goal of a healing garden is to make people feel safe, less stressed, more comfortable and even invigorated.

Designing Healing Gardens:
When designing healing gardens, the same considerations are used as in designing any other garden. However, these considerations take on special meaning in healing environments.

- Functionality is imperative because the garden needs to accommodate the limitations of the users of the space.

- It is also important that the garden design be maintainable both for physical safety and therapeutic benefits. At institutions such as hospitals, it is especially important that the garden be easy to maintain because a poorly maintained garden could make patients lose confidence that they are being well taken care of by hospital staff.

- If the garden isn't environmentally sound, it could be detrimental to the users of the space, especially those who are physically unwell.

- Often times the funding for healing gardens is raised through donations and other contributions. Therefore is it important that the garden design be cost effective.

- Finally, healing gardens are meant to provide pleasant surroundings to produce restorative effects for its users. The garden will not be successful if it isn't visually pleasing.

Just a few types of gardens can be:
~ Psychiatric Hospital Gardens
~ Children's Gardens -
http://www.chicagobotanic.org/
http://www.rchsd.org/aboutus/healingenvironment/healinggardens/index.htm
~ Nursing Home Gardens
~ Alzheimer's Treatment Gardens
...and many many more!

This is a GREAT website - you should read it! :) http://www.sustland.umn.edu/design/healinggardens.html