The young couple walks down the street, admiring the pink-blossomed cherry
trees and the magnolia tree's large tulip-shaped flowers emerging in
the spring sunlight. The sight of the flowers makes them feel happy and carefree.
"People like having plants in their environment," says Richard Mattson.
He is a professor of horticultural therapy in Kansas. Horticultural therapists
can work to enrich human lives by planting trees and flowers.
This work can happen in many different settings. "Right now, we have a
student who is interning in Disney World," says Mattson. He says that students
can work in botanical gardens in large cities such as New York, or in small
towns.
"This is about the human side of gardening," he says. "We work with people
establishing community gardens. We work with parks and recreation. And we
establish botanical gardens."
Horticultural therapy covers many different aspects of therapy. "From agriculture
to zoo horticulture," says Mattson. For example, a zoo in Kansas is adding
more plants to animal exhibits.
"Plants are now part of the red panda display. And the snow leopard is
surrounded by plants that would be native to the region," he says. The plants
may enrich the captive animals' lives, but it also makes the viewing
public feel better. "People enjoy being in naturalistic landscapes," says
Mattson.
Nancy Lee-Colibaba is the horticultural therapy coordinator at a botanical
garden. She knows the value of putting people in natural settings. Lee-Colibaba
spends a great deal of time working with the elderly.
"With patients who have dementia, gardening isn't about rehabilitation,"
she says. "The goal is to increase the quality of life for the individual."
By going out into the garden, these people can enjoy aspects of life they
may not get in touch with inside an institution. "They can be responsive to
smelling, touching and tasting," she says.
Lee-Colibaba says that gardening also helps children, such as those with
autism. "Gardening might help them focus on a task a bit longer," she says.
"The bright colors of the flowers and the activity can assist them."
Improvements in gardening facilities and tools have also helped people
who once loved gardening but now have physical restrictions, such as arthritis.
"People are realizing they can do more," says Lori Benson. She is the manager
of the American Horticultural Therapy Association in Colorado.
"New tools are being developed that people who have arthritis or have had
a stroke can use. It makes it so people who have been lifelong gardeners can
continue. And it helps improve their state of mind."
Benson adds that horticultural therapy is growing in popularity among the
general public. "There's been a growing acceptance of music therapy,
art therapy and alternate therapies that address quality of life issues,"
she says.
Gardening is good for the mind. "It's tranquil, it's peaceful,
it's stress-free," says Lee-Colibaba. But gardening is also good for
the body.
Lee-Colibaba says that many seniors welcome the opportunity to garden,
and in doing so get some exercise. "They benefit from the physical aspect
and being outdoors without realizing it," she says.
These clients are generally involved in other programs, such as physiotherapy.
But horticultural therapy can bring something more to their lives.
"They're motivated and they enjoy it."
Of course, each horticultural therapy program is tailored to an individual's
needs. "We wouldn't give someone with a back injury a shovel and get
them to dig a hole," says Lee-Colibaba. "Each person is monitored so that
their goals can be met."
Mattson says that while students enjoy the horticultural aspect of the
work, they're sometimes unprepared to deal with different segments of
the population. "This work requires sensitivity and maturity," he says. "You
can be working in conditions that are tough or difficult."
He adds that life experience can help prepare people for a job in therapy.
"If you know someone with Down syndrome or have had a brother who's been
in a serious automobile accident, then you know first-hand the difficulties
he will experience."
Seeing people benefit from gardening and working with plants is one of
the real rewards of the job. "This is for those who like working with people
and improving the human condition," says Mattson. "It involves the best of
a lot of different worlds."
Lee-Colibaba agrees. "It wouldn't work if you didn't have an
interest in plants or in helping people," she says. "But if you do, then this
is something you can really enjoy."