By Brenna Wiegand
When Polly Youngren began as the assistant director of nurses at Providence Benedictine Nursing Center six years ago, executive director Emily Dazey asked if she’d help create a therapy garden.
“We started with a blank slate and worked with a Portland landscape architect,” said Youngren. “What you see here is five years of fund-raising and growing. It is truly a godsend for the families, residents and staff here.”
The garden touches all age groups from the residents in the skilled nursing center and assisted living to the children in the Child Development Center.
And along the way each group contributed to the garden. Blanchet High School students were part of the design process. Kiwanis Club and Silverton Garden Club leant a hand in making the garden happen; a retired member of the care center’s foundation board volunteers in the garden; local craftsmen donated garden art such as trellises and birdhouses; the family of a former resident donated a new planting area and benches in her honor…
“It’s truly taken a whole village to build this,” Youngren said, pointing out one of the garden’s newest additions: a walking rail that can be a part of a physical therapy regime. “We’ve done all this with a tremendous amount of volunteers and a tremendous amount of donated plants.”
Youngren and the therapy garden’s other designers strove to incorporate a profusion of non-toxic plants within well-defined perimeters; areas especially for horticulture, therapy and social exchanges; simple patterns of wide pathways. It’s designed for the convenience of and enjoyment by people with the widest possible range of disabling conditions and to stimulate the full range of senses including memory, hearing, touch, sight, smell and even taste.
Another element to deriving maximum benefit from the therapy garden is holding regular activities – those allowing people to perform garden tasks or inform about related topics or a particular plant group – along with periodic special garden events, Youngren said.
A good example is the monthly garden group Benedictine residents enjoy, held by Brenda Knobloch, who Youngren has come to call her “garden angel.” “Brenda’s been my support person throughout,” Youngren said.
Knobloch, an employee of DeSantis Landscapes, has more than 25 years experience in landscape design. Earlier this year, she nourished a 20-year desire by completing Legacy Health System’s Horticultural Therapy Program.
“Therapeutic horticulture and how yards can be designed for greater accessibility is like a best-kept secret,” she said. “When I see and hear the experiences that come out of it, it tugs at my heart and often brings tears to my eyes.
“Only when you’ve been or had a loved one touched can you really dial in to nature’s healing benefits,” she said. “When people have a view of nature they heal faster, need less meds and have a better overall outlook on things.”
Knobloch has always been passionate about the benefits of horticultural therapy, especially after seeing it at work in a rehabilitative setting for mentally challenged people. Knoblach has achieved registration as a horticultural therapist through the American Horticultural Therapy Association, joining 270 other HTRs practicing in the U.S. She has helped install a number of therapy gardens – including a $100,000 behavioral health therapy garden at Legacy Emmanuel Hospital, and two more gardens at Benedictine: one for the Enhanced Care Services unit at Benedictine and another off Benedictine’s dining room. The dining room garden was the result of Knobloch mentoring Silverton High School student Beth Dettwyler in her senior project.
“Beth got all the materials donated and with the help of friends installed a beautiful garden for residents and staff to enjoy,” Knobloch said.
Youngren says being confined to a room or bed in a nursing facility can take a toll on a patient’s psyche. A garden helps those who are bed-bound or confined indoors much of the time to stay time-oriented through being able to observe the changing seasons, she said.
“It helps with memory and concentration and even enhanced problem-solving skills – all in a non-threatening environment – and provides opportunities for exercise,” she added. “Spiritually, it can be a personal sanctuary; a place where a memorial for a loved one can be created through a donated plant or piece of garden art; and a source of encouragement through its ever-present process of renewal.
“If you’re sick; if you’re in pain; if all this is new to you and you’re struggling, confused by all the ringing phones and people coming and going, the garden’s a place of refuge and calm.”
“I can see how important this garden is to our patients and their families,” said Susan Gallagher, foundation director for the nursing center. “Our staff members use it a lot, too. My goal is to build an endowment for its maintenance.”
Youngren knows just the person for the job of official caretaker: her “garden angel,”
“The one in charge of the garden’s care has got to understand the purpose and intent of the garden,” Youngren said.
Like music or art therapy 30 or 40 years ago, horticultural therapy is in the early stages of being widely or officially recognized as therapy and isn’t allowed by most medical providers, but that hasn’t dampened either woman’s passion for its benefits.
“We’re kind of ahead of our time but that’s OK,” Youngren said.
“For most of us gardeners it’s a no-brainer,” Youngren said. “Many of our residents are the ones who had farms and gardens. The familiar smells and sights calm the anxiety they often feel when their care requires a stay here.”
