Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
Snow is perfect until it stops falling. It is a flawless sheet that envelopes everything. But once it stops, it becomes a record for all actions and in particular all the creatures that have walked on it. Some areas are busier than others. For instance, under the winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and beautyberry (Callicarpa) bushes, the […]
Juana and Charlotte shout out, “There’s a wolf out back!” Getting to the window quickly I don’t think it a wolf but rather a coyote. It’s hard to tell from the distance but wolfs have not been spotted in Connecticut for more than two centuries so I think that ID is unlikely. Regardless, Daisy who […]
Juana gave me this card for my birthday last year and it pretty much sums up my feelings. We are a family of readers and gardeners so our library per se is scattered in the many bookcases throughout our house. I have concentrated most of the gardening books in my office, who’s bookcases used to […]
I am surprised to see the llamas and sheep at McKeon Farm, when I arrive to install a sign for the Ridgefield Conservation Commission. They pay little heed to me as they chomp away at their fodder knowing that there is nothing but snow I can offer them at this point. The llamas are there […]
I’m not sure when I got the idea about writing a book about my horticultural therapy experiences, but it was probably around the time Charlotte was born. I was pretty much retired and Juana and I were taking care of Charlotte during the day and my horticultural therapy program was starting at Ann’s Place. Prior […]
Many of my clients at Ann’s Place miss out on the tapestry of the facility’s Winter garden. From the parking lot, the back yard and adjoining wetlands is lovely and peaceful. Walking around the property clockwise from the front door, the winterthur viburnum (Viburnum nudum) is still full of fruit, one of the last bushes […]
The amaryllis is decadent. After a month or so, it has exploded with three stalks, the first one of which has six incredible flowers. Even though its whiteness implies chasteness, its excess implies something quite different. It towers over the other tinier plants that surround it in our solarium. This room is where we keep […]
This snow covered sugar maple (Acer saccharum) stump will be with us for a while. Though a hint of melt is seen shimmering between the wood and snow, there is no doubt that this coating will remain for quite a while. Nothing has marred the perfect dome of snow that caps the last bits of […]
As we create our dried flower art, my clients are very quiet as they concentrate on the task at hand. Questions emerge every so often to break the silence. “How will we mount it,” asks Ben. “Wait and see.” “Why do we need toothpicks,” asks June. “To manipulate the glue.” “Why is there writing on […]
After all the snow is shoveled, Juana and Charlotte decide to take a tumble to make snow angels. They try to coax me to fall in the cold and frigid snow. I decline their kind offer.