seniors with exercise even if they
are not able to actually work in
the garden. Slow daily walks
through a garden in fresh air can
be a wonderful source of light
Where the Wild Things Grow
Herb Gardens of Youth: The Benefits of Gardening for Seniors
exercise and relaxation.
Gardening isn’t just exercise
for the body; it can also be exer-
cise for the mind. Gardening can
help keep the mind sharp. Plan-
ning the garden helps stimulate
creativity. Seeds and plants must
be carefully chosen and deci-
sions must be made about the
best areas to place which plants —
sunny or shady, dry or
moist areas — taller
plants toward the back,
smaller plants toward
the front, etc. Remem-
bering the names of
plants and committing
new plant names to memory can
serve as a good mental exercise.
Gardening also provides the gift
of hope to seniors as the antici-
pation of blooms begins to build
and provides joy each spring as
green plants begin to emerge
and rainbows of color appear.
According to Rutgers University
(2005), sensory stimulation is an
important aspect of the gardening
experience for seniors. Colors,
textures, and shapes exercise the
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