If I asked you to picture a therapeutic garden, what comes to mind? Some of us might imagine an open, accessible space bordered with beds of flowers; raised containers constructed with diverse bodies in mind; or a medical center atrium filled with plants to provide respite to staff and patients.
During my recent trip to New York City to pursue therapeutic horticulture training with the New York Botanical Garden, I had the chance to visit several gardens that I found personally therapeutic: NYBG’s Edible Academy; the New Roots Community Garden in the Bronx, and the Two Coves Community Garden in Astoria, Queens. I’m simultaneously restored and invigorated by green spaces that incorporate food, the local community, and other partners in a healthy ecosystem (including pollinators and beneficial insects).
Likely, many of us hear the word “garden” and anticipate experiences ranging from relaxation, pleasure, and nourishment, to sensory engagement and stress reduction. The American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) defines a therapeutic garden as “a plant-dominated environment purposely designed to facilitate interaction with the healing elements of nature.” Recently, the Seattle Times featured several horticultural therapists as well as a local nature-based behavioral health professional (yours, truly!) in an article on the many therapeutic benefits of gardens.
While every green (and blue) environment has the potential to boost well-being, formal therapeutic gardens are specifically created by interdisciplinary teams to optimize benefits for a wide range of visitors. They typically involve a great deal of planning, resources, and collaboration. Chances are good that a therapeutic garden exists in your community, perhaps within a local botanical garden or hospital system.
We might also consider the therapeutic opportunities found in less formal spaces, such as a trail meandering through the understory of a nearby forest or a meditative space that includes a labyrinth or simple water feature. Edible gardeners often describe their vegetable beds as an invitation to “come home to the senses.” Veterans find skill-building, connections, and healing on farmland. And many individuals turn to houseplants for a taste of nature and a daily dose of comfort. We can learn to amplify the therapeutic benefits of a people-plant relationship on our own, or with the support of a trained professional.
Over the years, I’ve toured hundreds of green spaces ranging from sensory and meditation gardens to gardens based in schools, senior living, and community settings. While some of my visits occurred within the scope of professional trainings, the vast majority arose from my desire to connect with nature in response to various personal challenges, including health crises and pandemic parenting. Gradually, I’ve increased my awareness of the garden settings in which I found refuge (nearly all include generous plantings of lavender!)
The bottom line? Nature heals. Plants make people happy, even in small or indoor spaces. Perhaps this is one silver lining lesson available to us after the pandemic, when relationships temporarily shrunk to fit in a Zoom window and many of us found ourselves confined to “container” living.
This summer is a great time to visit public gardens within our local communities and also to contemplate the option of creating a small space garden specifically for stress relief, self-soothing, and sensory engagement within your home or workplace.
As always, follow me for ongoing examples of how we all might connect with plants and nature. Happy growing, friends!
Lavender Belle Farm 