When I start a horticultural therapy session, I always try to break the ice with something unexpected. It can be some freshly picked berries from nearby bushes that the birds and animals have missed or slug-free greens that I just pulled from my garden. This time of year, however, the pickings are quite slim. When I had arrived at Ann’s Place I thought I might be able to harvest some herbs that have outlasted the snow and 20 degree nights we had in November.
So when I went out back to clip some holly for the day’s class, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the Cleveland sage had a few branches that were intact with green florets. Some of the lavender was still blue green and our mountain mint was beginning to send out a second or third growth from its root ball. I clipped these offerings and brought them back.
I have found that to deliver something unexpected initially to clients before we start a session opens their eyes and senses to possibilities and creativity that they may have not had walking into the room. And smell can be a very powerful way to get them thinking about things that they have forgotten or not experienced in a while.
As the group formed I passed out each of the stems asking individuals to both identify them and tell the group if they liked them or not. Few of the clients were familiar with the way to best express the fragrance of the herbs by rubbing its leaves between one’s fingers and then smelling those digits. So initially the scents were nuanced and difficult to identify. Once I clued in the group of this trick, slight scents became powerful smells.
“Oh my god! This is horrible,” said one of my clients about the sage.
“This is quite relaxing,”said another of the lavender.
“I think this is a mint,” said a third not sure of its type.
The sage, in particular, produced a very powerful scent when rubbed. Few were neutral about it: it was either love or hate. But one client lingered over each branch. She carefully rubbed each leaf, inhaling deep with each rubbing.
“I can’t believe this! This is the first time in a year that I have been able to smell anything. This is wonderful!”
And with that it was time to start the class.
