Gardens are magical - that's my take on them. I have enjoyed gardening both for my relaxation but also to interact with our son. The garden offers many topics of conversation - from the weeds to the scents of the herbs to birds chirping to bees nesting. We have followed flowers from seeds to gorgeous blooms and grown vegetables and berries. The garden offers education in so many aspects of life - there are endless opportunities in the garden to use for education and therapy.
I have wanted to enroll in the Therapeutic Garden certificate program through the UW Continuing Education but do not have the funds or time right now - it's on the horizon of things to do though. I browsed through their site today and came across this video about an upcoming therapeutic garden. This is such a wonderful plan. It is so true that our disabled family members need a secured area to go outside and enjoy nature.
There is a lovely garden on the grounds of Fircrest. I have attached a couple of links to information regarding that garden. We love to go there to visit and walk the garden. We love how the planters are built so that people can garden from wheelchairs or waist height. The water is such a great addition to the garden too.
I know from our small garden how much enjoyment that our son gets from it. He knows where each herb is planted, where to get berries, where his pumpkins, cucumbers and tomatoes grow and loves the various colors of the flowers. We've arranged various sitting areas in the gardens for him from which he can talk to me while I'm out there too.
Gardens are magical!
Links: Definition of Therapeutic Garden: http://pce.uw.edu/uploadedFiles/Offerings/Master/Certificates/Therapeutic_garden.pdf
Articles on Therapeutic Garden at Fircrest: http://larch.be.washington.edu/features/design_build/11505-L1.pdf
Short video on planned garden at Washington Soldiers Home: http://pce.uw.edu/basic.aspx?id=4392
Hi, Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteI love your description of how you and your son enjoy gardens! Plus the luscious photos that must be of your garden!
I don't know if you realize that the face photo for Developmental Disabilities Exchange was taken at "Pumpkin Glow," held in one of Fircrest School's 2 therapeutic gardens! A wheelchair friendly, concrete strip, known as the" healing garden path," it meanders over a bridge & past huge, musical chimes along the perimeter of a larger piece of property that is used for gatherings and events, picnics and sunning, it is hugged by plantings of non-toxic perennials chosen for their attractiveness to birds and butterflies, fragrant herbs, sitting areas, colorful, mosaic-decorated benches and walls with designs by Fircrest resident, an elder of 91 years, wall toppings of memorial bricks, and yes, raised beds that accommodate wheelchairs! This garden, paid for with donations, was originally promised to be protected from future development.
The other therapeutic garden on Fircrest School's campus, also paid for by private donations is well described and beautifully illustrated in the two excellent articles for which you posted links.
Another feature of your post that I find exciting is video portrayal of the Soldier's home. We have the experience to prove the value of the therapeutic garden they are planning, but also, in the past, there has been talk of creating a campus community for head-injured soldiers on excess property at Fircrest School. Watching the soldier's-home video, I realized how very complementary and compatible their needs and uses would be with those of Fircrest School's residents and probably with other residential habilitation centers in the country, as well.
Two green thumbs up!
Saskia
Thank you for the information on the garden at Fircrest. We love it there. This past week when Thomas was home visiting, he specifically asked to go there.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the Soldiers Home until I saw this video and found it so inspirational about what the garden can do - particularly for those with Alzhiemers. Wouldn't it be wonderful to allow them to walk outside rather than up and down hallways?
I wish that I had seen this prior to Veteren's Day - it would have been a moving piece to honor those who have served all of us!