one step into her yard quickly people recover quicker, need
I
fill the watering bucket for my
recently retired mother and deflates my ego. Lush flowers less pain medicine, and have a
watch as she walks up the grow everywhere, in flower beds, more positive outlook on health
yard to water the yarrow lining in pots, along the fence line, even when they have a view of nature
the back fence. I’m delighted that in quirky planters made from (Mackenzie, 2006). Innovative
Where the Wild Things Grow
Herb Gardens of Youth: The Benefits of Gardening for Seniors
she enjoys helping me in the herb driftwood or even an old bath- nursing home designs are now
garden. We both stoop and bend room sink. She spends time in building structures so that each
to pick weeds, the resident cat her yard daily and her care for room has a garden view.
darts up the crooked dogwood the plants shows. This care not Gardening certainly provides
tree that overhangs the herb bed, only shows in the garden, but much needed exercise for seniors
supervising our every move. We also in her. She is still fit, trim, and can provide several different
enjoy this time together outside, and a sharp thinker. She travels exercise levels depending on
bonding with each other and frequently, and nearly 90, she tells physical fitness. Seniors who are
connecting with nature. It may me that she drives her “elderly” especially fit can participate in
seem a bit more like chores to friends to all of their outings. She digging and planting the beds
is clearly the most active of all of and can continue with daily
her friends her age. maintenance such as watering
Gardening is one of the most and weeding. Seniors whose
popular hobbies for my grand- fitness levels are limited may be
mother’s age group and it is now able to participate in watering
being recognized as more than by using small watering cans or
just a hobby. Nursing homes hoses. Planting seeds support
my mother than connecting with and assisted living facilities are motor-skills and hand-eye coor-
nature, but even so, she is outside now realizing the importance of dination. Raised gardens provide
breathing fresh air, exercising, and gardening and are implementing good exercise to seniors who
providing care for the plants. gardening as therapy for their are less able to bend and stoop
I think of my paternal grand- seniors. Gardening promotes to pick weeds. Raised beds are
mother who was raised in a rural healing, improves mood and also helpful to allow access to
environment. She gardened and boosts the immune system. It can gardeners who may be wheelchair
ate fresh foods from her land. help lower blood pressure, reduce bound. Creating wide paths and
Though she has lived in suburban stress, and reduce pain. Even smooth surfaces between beds is
areas throughout my life time, she if physical access to a garden an important consideration for
has always kept flower and herb is limited, just having a garden seniors who use wheelchairs or
gardens. No matter how proud view can be beneficial. According canes, or for those with vision
I may be of my garden at home, to psychologist Roger S. Ulrich, issues. Gardens can provide
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