The number one element that people request when designing a garden is water.  This is just as important to most people than the specific plants that are selected or the paving materials to be used for a patio or walkway.  Typically water is important because of the sound or white noise that is present in the back ground.  The presence of water can come in the form of a fountain, pond, bird bath or other feature. During a lecture yesterday at the NJ American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, a question was raised about the importance of including a water feature in a garden.  I was giving a talk on ‘Creating Affordable Therapeutic Gardens’ and one of the attendees wanted to know if a water feature should be considered within the garden.  My answer was a resounding yes!  A water feature is an attraction and will encourage a person to visit the outdoor garden space.  The attached picture is from a recently completed courtyard and the water fountain is the number one attraction in the garden, so far. People like to sit by the water because it typically provides a soothing sound.  This is an important consideration when selecting the kind of water feature to use.  The water should provide a soft gentle sound and not sounds that are disruptive. A good example might be the sound of water as it falls upon the roof during a rainfall.  This is a ‘natural’ sound and one that we are all familiar hearing.  Or the sound could replicate a bubbling brook as the water cascades over the stones. What is interesting is that there is little research on what specific sounds are pleasant and what sounds are distracting.  I would like to find a fountain manufacturer who would be interested in participating in a research study.  I have talked with environmental psychologists who are interested in conducting the study.  This would go a long way in moving beyond the anecdotal findings that we have to date.

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Just reading a recent article in the McKnights.con Daily Updates about the report about seniors creating the worlds largest tea cozy! “Residents at more than 300 Bupa care nursing homes from New Zealand to Spain to England sent in hand-made patches for the tea cozy—a padded covering for a teapot to keep the contents hot. Residents at Bupa nursing homes in Hertfordshire, UK, assembled the giant tea cozy, securing the seniors a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, according to the Watford Observer. The tea cozy reportedly measures nearly 13 feet tall, more than 36 feet in circumference and is comprised of 1,924 squares of wool which, if unraveled, would span more than 40 miles in length.” Think what would happen if we unleashed the gardening talents of seniors to help plant extra vegetables for the needy.  This is the generation that grew up on ‘Victory Gardens’ and have the technical expertise to raise vegetables for good causes.  Community garden programs are taking off in a big way.  What can’t we enlist the help of older adults living in senior residences to plant tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers for people in need of help. The network of organizations is there is help collect and distribute the produce.  Groups such as PhilAbundance (http://www.philabundance.org) are dedicated to ending hunger through programs called “Fresh for All”.  Philabundance estimates that there are approximately 900,000 people in the Delaware Valley that may need help with food.  Through our 600+ agency network, food is distributed to approximately 65,000 people every week. The Garden Writers Association (http://www.gardenwriters.org) have a program called Plant A Row for the Hungry. The purpose of PAR is to create and sustain a grassroots program whereby garden writers utilize their media position with local newspapers, magazines and radio/TV programs to encourage their readers/listeners to donate their surplus garden produce to local food banks, soup kitchens, and service organizations to help feed America’s hungry. PAR’s role is to provide focus, direction, and support to volunteer committees who execute the programs at the local level. Consider starting a Community Garden Program that will truly help the community.  The benefits are many – for the community who will receive freash locally grown produce and for the older adults who continue to be a vital part of their community.  Besides, what is everyone going to do with all of this zucchini during the summer!  There are only so many door sills that you can deposit them on.

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“Integrated Medicine looks at the body as a garden”, according to Birgit Rakel, MD, who was a keynote speaker at the Healing Gardens Conference held at Medford Leas CCRC, Medford, NJ on April, 23, 2009. Dr. Rakel is a board certified in family medicine and is a faculty member of the Jefferson Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. In her talk “Nature and the Prescription for Wellness”, Dr. Rakel shared her insights into the challenges that face an aging population and provided ideas for incorporating the benefits of nature into therapeutic programs and senior living communities. Her treatment strategies combine state-of-the-art conventional medicine with herbal and nutritional supplementation. A large part of Dr. Rakel’s practice has been to focus on the needs of older adults. “Complimentary and Alternative Medicine for Older Adults” is the recent publication that she and Elizabeth R. Mackenzie, Ph.D. have edited as a guide to holistic approaches to healthy aging. The book is a helpful guide to issues addressing a variety of treatments, including art and music, massage, acupuncture, meditation, homeopathy, ayurveda, aromatherapy and therapeutic gardens. The information provides reliable and authoritative information on complimentary and alternative therapies that older adults can use to improve their health and quality of life. Additional information on the publication can be found at: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=38055

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Gardening is important for older adults and a research study published in HortScience (44:6-223, 2009) validates what we have intuitively know.   The study, “Physical and Psychological Health Conditions of Older Adults Classified as Gardeners or Nongardeners”, was conducted by Candice A. Shoemaker, Ph.D. and Mark D. Haub at Kansas State University.  The results of the study indicate that “active gardeners and gardeners had greater hand strength and pinch force than non-gardeners.”  The implications are that gardening, which is a physical activity, will help seniors to stay in shape as well as improve hand strength. Candice Shoemaker was interviewed by United Press International regarding the study and was quoted as saying that “older adults who are gardeners have better strength and pinch force, which is important as you age.”  Dr. Shoemaker believes that “there’s a lot of natural motivation in gardening, you know there’s a plant you’ve got to go out and water and weed to keep alive.  If we get the message out there that older adults can get health benefits from gardening, they’ll realize that they don’t have to walk around the mall to get exercise.”  Gardening is a lot more interesting because you are outside in nature which is ever changing.  Therefore, the results indicate that gardening improves the physical health of older adults and it also improves the person’s self-esteem. The link to the UPI article can be found at: http:/ /www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/02/04/Gardening_boosts_older_adults_self-esteem/UPI-10581233805895/

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As we get ready for another season in the garden, we should take the time to make sure the garden is safe for everyone, especially older adults.  The rules for what we do to make the indoor areas of a home safe also applies to outdoor areas.  Start by taking a general look around at the garden.  Are there obvious things that we know will make enjoying the garden safer?  Are the walking paths level and have not buckled with age?  Are there over low hanging branches that need to be pruned back or shrubs that have grown over the walking path?  Look for the obstructions that might make it difficult for someone to use the garden. There are things to watch out for on a daily basis when people are using the garden. Make sure that the paths are not slippery and have time to dry after watering.  Be sure that hoses are put away and have not been left crossing the walk.  Have tools been put away in the shed?  Look to see if there are handrails, chairs and tables for people to steady themselves.  Is the garden area visible from the indoors and windows are not obstructed by shrubs or trees.  Is it possible to include a call system or have a cell phone available in the garden? Be sure to use stable furniture that is not prone to tipping.  These and other considerations are important for the safe use of the garden. Additional information on garden evaluations can be obtained at http://www.designforgenerations.com or at jpcarman1@comcast.net

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People do care about nature.  We are ‘hard-wired’ to nature.  The scientific term for this connection is called ‘biophilia.’  The term was popularized by the sociobiologist Edward O. Wilson in his 1984 book “Biophylia: The Human Bond With Other Species.”  People subconsciously look to maintain a connection with nature and the world around us, specifically plants animals and landscapes. There are countless stories and we can point to examples in our everyday lives.  A recent story in the January-February 2009 issue of the AARP Bulletin highlights this connection.  It seems that older adult residents of a Mass.  apartment complex were willing to go to battle to save the life of a crab apple tree.  “The Shrewsbury Housing Authority, which manages Francis Gardens, a 100 unit complex for older adults, ordered the tree cut down in September so that a dumpster could be relocated.  Lee Perone, 74, and Pat Henry, 65, didn’t want the dumpster beneath their windows.  Besides, Perrone says, when the tree blooms, ‘It’s the most beautiful thing – pink.’  So the pair roped chairs around the tree and staged a sit-in.  Both women received eviction notices.  After a local lawyer volunteered to represent them, the housing authority backed down.  The tree was saved.” People do care about nature, regardless of age and we need to be more aware of this fact.  We all need to advocate for strengthening the connection with the natural world.  Creating community gardens, walking trails, bike paths and simply places to enjoy nature are so very important.

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The idea for an organic vegetable garden within the grounds of the White House seems to be gaining interest and momentum.  I first heard the suggestion during a radio interview with Michael Pollan, author of  ‘In Defense of Food‘, The Penguin Press in which Mr. Pollan talked about the need to return to creating of home and community gardens.  The idea has been raised again, this time in the Wall Street Journal, on January 16, 2009 in the Weekend Journal. The article “Extreme Makeover: White House Edition” by Dominique Browning talks about redecorating the White house for the Obamas as well as looking at ways to make the overall residence ‘greener’. The WSJ article suggests that “the Obamas can kick off another Victory Garden movement in America’s suburbs, but it needs a new name…try Sunshine Gardens, symbolizing a return to sustainable farm practice using a plentiful energy supply.”  I would like to explore the idea further in the coming months and see where it all leads. I think that we can and should expand on this notion.  There are infinite number of possibilities as people grow their own vegetables.  Backyards, front yards, balconies, roof tops, etc, are all feasible locations for raising fresh organice produce.  Creating Sunshine Gardens will be good for everyone and not just in single family residences.  There are opportunities to develop gardens in schools, hospitals, etc.  People who want to ‘age-in-place’ will consider raising their own fresh vegetables in raised planters.  The list goes on and on.  This is a subject that will be explored further and actual examples of how it is being conducted today will be presented.  Your comments and suggestions are most welcome. The link to the WSJ article can be found at the following link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123206925413188425.html?mod=rss_Lifestyle

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Less day light and colder temperatures can limit out time outdoors, especially for older adults.  The results can be, for some people, seasonal depression.  We always benefit from from spending time in the sunlight.  Taking a walk through the park or even out in the garden can do two important things to help alleviate these feelings of depression.  The first thing is that exercise will help to boost production of serotonin levels and that will help to make us feel better.  The second element to this activity is that the sunlight will help to balance our circadian rhythms which are the natural wake, sleep cycles of the body.  The key here is to remain active and a good way to do that is in the outdoor environment. Sometimes, during the winter months, when it is not possible to get outside on certain days,  visitng an indoor garden may be the next best thing.  If there is a botanical garden in your community, look into becoming a member or just making a visit to get acquainted.  Spending time in these indoor gardens can be another good way to help relieve the winter time blues.  The warmer temperatures and humid air will help you feel like you are in your garden in the summer time.  All of the lush plants and great variety of species will defiinitely excite the senses.  Think of it as a mini vacation in your winter therapeutic garden.  Be sure to bring a book, maybe some of those plant catalogues that have been arriving in the mail and a note pad to jot down all of those good ideas.  Spend some time, as often as you can, and look forward to spring when you will be outside again in your own garden. And – be sure to keep an eye out for those early spring bulbs.  It may be a little too soon.  However, as the saying goes – hope springs eternal.

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We intuitively believe that nature is good for us.  Research by Mayer, Frantz, Bruehlman-Senecal and Dolliver has shown that we do benefit from spending time in the natural world.  The research study ” Why is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connections to Nature“, Sept. 5, 2008,  demonstrated that people who walked in an arboretum “experienced higher levels of private self-awareness and awareness of their immediate environment.” The study indicates that people who are outside in nature “reap greater psychological benefits.”  There exists a greater need to create outdoor environments that encourage people connect with the natural world.  Examples include and are not limited to the involvement in organic gardens, nature paths, arboretum, bike rides, nature centers and other nature focused settings.  The ability to spend time in nature is very important for ourselves and everyone.  Our goal should be to create the opportunities that allow people to access nature on a dialy basis.

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