Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
We have an heirloom rose bush on the corner of our property that has been there ever since we purchased our house over 30 years ago. Our neighbors at the time told us that this bush has always been part of the original estate, which our structure is part of, and is likely to be […]
uana got some inspiration to jump the gun on a horticultural therapy exercise that she was helping me kit up recently. It’s the last zoom class for my clients at Ann’s Place where we will be making pea and rose wreaths. It should be great fun!
As expected, the daffodils are exploding at @annsplaceinc. The display adjacent to the back parking lot will be in full flower for the next few weeks and the other large expanse in the back should catch up next week. Come by for a visit, smell the flowers and watch our garden explode with life.
My horticultural therapy clients at⠀@annsplanceinc had a great time last week making plant labels and @seedbombs. These are simple exercises where clients young and old can be engaged. I was able to make the plant labels out of wooden stakes, mason jar lids and customized weatherproof labeling. The seed bombs also needed just three ingredients: […]
Spring is when microclimates show off big differences. This split screen of two forsythia illustrates this phenomenon perfectly. The image to the left is of a bush belonging to a neighbor less than 200 yards away; the other is of my scraggly bushes tucked into a north facing hill. My neighbor’s bushes get sun all […]
Last week was busy with two book talks for the @thehoppgroundgardenclub and @annsplaceinc on the same day. Both were nicely attended and I started the groups out with a simple aromatherapy exercise before discussing A Therapist’s Garden. “Open the plastic bag you have and crush the sachet or the herbs inside between your fingers. As […]
It’s amaryllis Easter! The flowering succession of amaryllis bulbs that I brought up from the basement in February are starting to flower out just in time for the holidays. I still have 10 or so bulbs in dormancy; a new pair comes up to spring to life every week. Soon all will have a place […]
It’s tick time! Every year I pull a few of these blood suckers off me even though I am super diligent in showering and getting rid of my garden clothing after every outing. This year looks to be a bad one in New England as snow cover and mild temperatures are likely to help the […]
Juana is standing above the labyrinth at Ann’s Place where we have over 7,000 daffodils (Narcissus) about to burst out in bloom. At Ann’s Place, Danbury, CT, there are over 15,000 bulbs planted in a variety of spots. Starting next week it should be spectacular. Come and take a look and enjoy the beauty and […]
Garlic mustard (𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑎) arrives in the early Spring faster than the dandelions (𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑥𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑒). And like dandelions it can be savored in many different ways. Emerging from the ground, the tiniest of this biannual’s leaves are pungent and delicious as an adornment to any salad. As it grows, which can be very fast in […]