Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
The popularity of my sessions at Ann’s Place vary widely. A recent one on how to forage for wild salads had smaller attendance than typical and less participation than normal. Though everyone loves the May wine I offer spiked with sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) and strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) as well as dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) […]
“This is wonderful,” says Lisa, as she inhales the scent of fresh lavender (Lavandula) that she has picked from our herb garden. Other clients linger around the mints trying to decide which variety to choose. If it were not for the fact that everyone is wearing a mask, it would seem like any other normal […]
Because of COVID-19, I have had to create on-line versions of classes for my horticultural therapy clients. This particular video is for those who use the services of Ann’s Place, a not-for-profit cancer support facility I work for. I walked (virtually) many of them through the gardens at Ann’s Place a little while back, but […]
“I can’t breathe,” said my mother in a panicked tone as she floated in the pool. “I need to get out.” Moments ago she had been splashing around, content. She now was breathing with shallow puffs. I cradled her in my arms and turned her body toward the windows on the side of the pool. […]
Some of my favorite plants in the gardens that I tend to are those I had nothing to do with their inclusion. (The converse is also true, particularly with stealthily introduced invasives.) This year at Ann’s Place joe-pye weed stretches high in the back garden above the Virginia rye, golden rod and the remaining phragmites […]
Like all our other mornings, we started our last day on the towpath trail with beautiful weather. With the exception of being caught for over 1 hour in a downpour on our first day, our trip has been idyllic. The morning starts out cool with a light wind coming over the river. But before we […]
We exit the trail at Harvard Ave. in the middle of an industrial park. We head left and then right looking for the trail. There is only construction. Then we come to another section that says “Trail Closed.” After re-examining the trail map as well as Google maps we continue forward. A mountainous slag heap […]
It’s a clear, hot sunny morning. We leave Massillon to ride the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath trail, which is adjacent to the Tuscarawas River. The stone dust trail sits high above the river, which has dropped at least 6 feet based on the silt marks on nearby vegetation and its V-shaped banks. People are […]
As we enter the outskirts of Akron, the trail becomes increasingly urban and industrial. Old factories sit quietly on the side and empty bottles, cans, paper and other garbage pollute the canal. Still, turtles sun themselves on logs, people fish and a great blue heron leads us down the canal toward town. While the waterways […]
We had the opportunity the other day to walk the streets of Millersburg. It is an old town with a base of historical and architecturally interesting buildings. We stayed at the Hotel Millersburg, which was built in 1847 and is the third oldest continuously operating hotel in Ohio. It is a favorite of those who […]