The current issue of Garden Design magazine (Jul/Aug 2010) has a great article on Healing Gardens and the work of Clare Cooper Marcus.  This is a definite read for anyone who has an interest in the healing powers of gardens and why nature can play an important role in the healing process.  The article chronicles the work of Ms. Cooper

A burst of sunshine in the garden

Marcus and how she has been a leader in helping to define how these spacial gardens should be designed.

Ms. Cooper Marcus talks about how healing gardens should be as much, if not more, about plants and less about creating abstract designs.  The gardens should “provide a sense that you are in a garden and not a plaza or indoors.”  The garden, as Clare explains in the article, should be designed to include four essential elements: exercise, social support, a sense of control and a distraction of nature.  These and other important design ideas are discussed in the article.

The article may be found in the magazine starting on page 73 and additional information at the web site www.gardendesign.com