Last week’s horticultural therapy class on hanging herb baskets at @annsplaceinc went exceeding well with 23 clients signed up both on-site and remotely. The remote option is great for some clients going though cancer treatments who have the will but not the physical strength to make the trek to our center. I am happy to accommodate them when I can.
In this exercise, every client receives a rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) and then is able to choose between two different types of basil (Ocimum basilicum), oregano (Origanum vulgare) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris). Though each of these plants by themselves could get way too large for these hanging baskets, I tell them to use their herbs often to keep the basket manageable.
Only the basil, started from seed, needs to be pulled apart from its potted clump so I show clients how to gingerly remove a single plant without hurting its stem or roots.
And with this they start to pot up. The soil is mixed and wetted so clients just need to decide what they want and where. For some it is tough as they are torn between the red and green basil but I tell them they can pot up a separate plant in spare peat pots that I placed on each table. Realizing a larger bounty than anticipated, clients jump in and plant as much as they can.
I try to pay attention to my remote clients by speaking to them directly and then turning my iPad screen toward the class. At the end of the class, they create a lovely basket using the plant label stakes we made a month back. Everyone loves it.
