by Bea Peterson
The Hoosick Falls Health Center Garden Tour on Sunday, July 10, will begin at the Health Center’s garden. It’s a beautiful setting, thanks to Registered Horticultural Therapist Carol Whitelaw and Health Center staff and residents.
Whitelaw comes to the Center two days a week from Saratoga. She likes the small facility, and she has family in the community. She has been involved with the garden since 2000 when the deck and pathways were put in. Now the garden has an abundance of perennials, a fountain, some statuary,
a raised bed vegetable garden and a wall covered with morning glories. The deck has more than a dozen hanging baskets. As part of her horticultural therapy work she works with the residents to water and deadhead the hanging baskets. They have planted a raised bed of zinnias from seed, and they maintain the vegetable garden. While they are working with the plants, they are exercising as well, improving their balance and their coordination with standing and walking.
The residents’ work doesn’t end in the garden. They harvest and prepare the vegetables they grow. They also cook some of those vegetables or make salads. They also practice flower arranging, make flower petal paper and potpourri. “They do meaningful projects,” said Whitelaw. The paper and potpourri frequently become gifts for family and friends. “This way they have something to give to others,” she said.
“Horticulture Therapy is so much more than just having a pretty garden for residents to see,” said Whitelaw. “It includes a defined treatment procedure that focuses on horticultural activities. That treatment has goals that can be measured and evaluated by a qualified professional.”
Come to the garden and see how beautiful it is, then enjoy the rest of the Garden Tour on Sunday, July 10.