The morning is a rough one for Shannon. A water pipe just burst in the basement and a storage room filled with client records is awash with water. She is stoic in going through dozens of boxes but I can tell she needs a break.
“Come on, Shannon. You need some horticultural therapy,” I say getting her to follow me outside.
The morning is bright, crisp and lovely. Leaving the building, the gurgle of the fountain greets us as do the birds in the neighboring woods. I lead her over to our carnivorous plant garden, who’s residents are stretching their modified leaves getting ready for their first bite of the season. She nods, happy with their progress.
We circle round to the raised herb beds and I show her the recently planted plot of scented geraniums, of which strawberry (Pelargonium x scarboroviae) is her favorite. She brushes her right hand on a leaf releasing its essential oils and smells her fingers. She sighs and a slight smile appears on her face. She repeats this exercise with some of the other plants.
We then stroll to the front of the property and stop at the pollinator garden. She bends down to touch and smell the lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Phenonenal’). Shannon inhales deeply and the weight of the day appears to melt from her shoulders.
“Thank you so much for this walk,” she says. “I feel so much better now.” And with that and a new spring in her step she heads back inside to tackle today’s challenge.
