Gardens that heal

Healing spaces that bring comfort and peace While therapy gardens can take as many forms as the plants within them, the end results are the same-healing spaces that bring comfort and peace to those who use them. The Healing Garden at the Cancer Treatment Centre at the Cape Breton Regional Health Care Complex in Sydney, Nova Scotia, is just such a place. A 186-square-metre enclosure adjacent to the hospital's receiving department, it provides a quiet sanctuary for patients, staff and visitors alike with its abundance of perennials and annuals, vine-covered arbours and fountain.In 1997, a committee of professional women from various health organizations hit upon the idea of creating a therapeutic garden where cancer patients could find emotional and spiritual support.The garden was designed by landscape designer Christene LeVatte of Highland Landscapes for Lifestyle in Sydney. A series of fundraisers was held to cover the $50,000 cost of the project, and the Healing Garden opened in September 1998.For the past seven years, Friends of the Healing Garden volunteers have looked after maintenance, working in teams that take turns planting, weeding and watering.“We don't do any fundraising,” says team co-ordinator Deborah Crittenden, noting that volunteers often use their own money to buy supplies such as fertilizer. She also points out that Christene has donated mulch, annuals, soil and tools as part of her ongoing involvement. In Montreal, the hortitherapy garden at Hôpital Rivières-des-Prairies is the result of both patients and staff coming together. Initially, funds were raised through corporate donations in association with the Hospital Foundation, but financial support for the Horticulture Centre is now largely generated from the work of the psychiatric patients involved with the program, who assist with the operation of the centre's two greenhouses (growing annuals for plant sales) and outdoor garden. The calming environment helps the participants' concentration and alleviates stress. The centre also runs a small store; its sales help cover expenses as well.But even those who may only be able to contribute minimally to physical tasks still find joy in having their own patch of earth. For instance, at Peel Manor Long-term Care Facility (for the elderly) in Brampton, Ontario, an inner courtyard has become an “adopt-a-garden” family project, largely through the efforts of Julie Krahule, a Master Gardener-in-training pursuing studies in horticultural therapy. Bring life and beauty to your courtyard In spring 2002, Julie created a garden for her mother, who had recently moved into Peel Manor. “I wanted to establish a sense of normality, something beautiful for her to look at.” She went on to convince three other residents to do the same. With varying degrees of family involvement (from initial planting to ongoing maintenance), myriad gardens now bring life and beauty to the courtyard. And since this first effort, gardens have sprung up throughout the facility's grounds. Julie noticed that “people start talking with others they don't know, now that they have the garden in common.” Donna Clow, supervisor of activations and community service, has observed other benefits as well: “Our residents love to get their hands in the dirt,” she says, “and they like to see the end results.” Peel Manor day-program participants have even entered their vegetables and flower arrangements in the Brampton Fall Fair, and have won first place several times.The vision of psychologist Dr. Leonard George in 1999, who wanted to create a peaceful, comfort­ing place to talk, led to the creation of the healing rooftop garden at Vancouver General Hospital, where patients, staff and families associated with the B.C. Professional Firefighters Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit and the neighbouring Trauma Special Care Unit find solace.Coincidentally, renowned landscape architect Cornelia Oberlander was a patient in the unit and lent her expertise to the final drawings for the garden, which were based on designs submitted by University of British Columbia landscape architecture students. To meet the $100,000 budget, funds were raised through special events and corporate and private donations in conjunction with the Vancouver Hospitals Foundation. Since the rooftop garden opened in 2002, it has “grown tremendously,” says Lois Budd, patient services manager. “We've added tables and chairs, a larger cascading fountain and a sound system.” Lois notes that patients are encouraged to work in the garden weeding and watering, as well as to just sit and enjoy it. Volunteers do most of the planting and maintenance.“Not only does the garden soothe and heal you when you're outside,” says Lois, “it's also very therapeutic for the patients who are stuck in bed and yet see the garden out their windows. Many have told me what a wonderful distraction it is and how it's so calming.”