Enabling Gardens & Adaptive Gardening
“Enabling gardens seek to reduce physical barriers and increase physical activity as a means of promoting physical health; Diehl’s three models - demonstration, eldercare and Alzheimer care gardens are used for diverse populations” (Fleming, 2021; Diehl, 2013). Enabling gardens can be found at all types of gardens where physical barriers are minimized including home gardens, school gardens, community gardens, defiant gardens, & therapeutic gardens. Newer research is investigating people with disabilities and their perceptions and use of urban parks and green spaces (Wojnowska-Heciak et al., 2022; Perry, 2021).
This category also includes adaptive gardening, an integral part of enabling gardens.
Related topics of garden accessibility & universal design elements have been included in category Landscapes for Health subset designed landscape elements.
This category also includes adaptive gardening, an integral part of enabling gardens.
Related topics of garden accessibility & universal design elements have been included in category Landscapes for Health subset designed landscape elements.
> Key Organizations
> Books, journals & E-publications on enabling gardens & adaptive gardening
AgrAbility (2021). The toolbox assistive technology database.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Carman, J. (2021). Design for Generations.
Cassidy, P. (2011). The Illustrated Practical Guide to Gardening for seniors. Lorenz Books.
Cooper Marcus, C. & Sachs, N. (2014). Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-Based Approach to Designing Healing Gardens and Restorative Outdoor Spaces. John Wiley and Sons. Inc.
Helphand, K. (2006). Defiant Gardens: Making Gardens in Wartime. Trinity University Press.
Rothert, G. (1994). The Enabling Garden: Creating Barrier-Free Gardens. Taylor Trade Publishing.
Tai, L., Haque, M.T., McLellan, G.K. & Knight, E.J. (2006). Designing Outdoor Environments for Children: Landscaping Schoolyards, Gardens, and Playgrounds. McGraw Hill.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Carman, J. (2021). Design for Generations.
Cassidy, P. (2011). The Illustrated Practical Guide to Gardening for seniors. Lorenz Books.
Cooper Marcus, C. & Sachs, N. (2014). Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-Based Approach to Designing Healing Gardens and Restorative Outdoor Spaces. John Wiley and Sons. Inc.
Helphand, K. (2006). Defiant Gardens: Making Gardens in Wartime. Trinity University Press.
Rothert, G. (1994). The Enabling Garden: Creating Barrier-Free Gardens. Taylor Trade Publishing.
Tai, L., Haque, M.T., McLellan, G.K. & Knight, E.J. (2006). Designing Outdoor Environments for Children: Landscaping Schoolyards, Gardens, and Playgrounds. McGraw Hill.
> RESEARCH & ARTICLES ON enabling GARDENS & adaptive Gardening
Recently published selected research & articles:
American Society of Landscape Architects. (2021). Universal design.
American Society of Landscape Architects. (2021). Universal design: Gardens.
Bravo, M. (2015). A guide for making community gardens accessible for all members. Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo.
Cheeseman, K., Goh, K., Hatt, K., Lukawiecki, J. & Nelson, K. (2020). Evaluation of the Guelph Enabling Garden. Guelph, ON: Community Engaged Scholarship Institute.
Diehl, L. (2013). A framework for categorizing healing gardens. AHTA News Magazine, 41(2), 4-6.
Diehl, R.M. (2019). Perspective: Psychological accessibility—A perspective on therapeutic garden design. In R. Haller, K. Kennedy & C. Capra (Eds.), The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy. CRC Press.
Dillon, I. & Green, J. (2021). Universal design. American Society of Landscape Architects.
Fleming, L. & Carroll, K. (2016). The accessible children’s rainforest garden at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Eatbreathegarden. Electronic version
Fleming, L. (2013). Recent trends in adaptive gardening tool use in HT settings. AHTA News Magazine, 41(1), 12-13.
Fleming, L. (2011). The Buehler Family Foundation Enabling Garden, Naples Florida. AHTA News Magazine, 39(3), 13-14.
Gendall, J. (2010). Senior circuit (A playground in London’s Hyde Park is designed for older exercisers). Landscape Architecture, 100(9), 110-114.
Guerro, A. (n.d.). Increasing inclusion in the school garden A resource packet for garden educators. School Garden Project of Lane County.
Kahn, Jr., P.H., Weiss, T. et al. (2018). Modeling child–nature interaction in a nature preschool: Proof of concept. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 835. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00835
Marcaccio, A. (2020). Ramps and garden accessibility. Digging In, 6(1), 9.
Morgan, S.C. (2019). Considerations and adaptations to safely accommodate program participants. In R. Haller, K. Kennedy & C. Capra (Eds.), The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy. CRC Press.
Palsdottir, AM., Spendrup, S., Martensson, L. & Wendin, K. (2021). Garden smellscape: Exploring plant scents for human wellbeing. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1330: XV International People Plant Symposium and II International Symposium on Horticultural Therapies: The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development.
Perry, M., Cotes, L., Horton, B., Kunac, R., Snell, I., Taylor, B., Wright, A. & Devan, H. (2021). "Enticing" but not necessarily a "Space Designed for Me": Experiences of urban park use by older adults with disability. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(2), 552. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020552
Pollin, S. & Retzlaff-Furst, C. (2021). The school garden: A social and emotional place. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 567720. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.567720
Raske, M. (2010) Nursing home quality of life: Study of an enabling garden. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 53(4), 336-351, DOI: 10.1080/01634371003741482
American Society of Landscape Architects. (2021). Universal design.
American Society of Landscape Architects. (2021). Universal design: Gardens.
Bravo, M. (2015). A guide for making community gardens accessible for all members. Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo.
Cheeseman, K., Goh, K., Hatt, K., Lukawiecki, J. & Nelson, K. (2020). Evaluation of the Guelph Enabling Garden. Guelph, ON: Community Engaged Scholarship Institute.
Diehl, L. (2013). A framework for categorizing healing gardens. AHTA News Magazine, 41(2), 4-6.
Diehl, R.M. (2019). Perspective: Psychological accessibility—A perspective on therapeutic garden design. In R. Haller, K. Kennedy & C. Capra (Eds.), The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy. CRC Press.
Dillon, I. & Green, J. (2021). Universal design. American Society of Landscape Architects.
Fleming, L. & Carroll, K. (2016). The accessible children’s rainforest garden at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Eatbreathegarden. Electronic version
Fleming, L. (2013). Recent trends in adaptive gardening tool use in HT settings. AHTA News Magazine, 41(1), 12-13.
Fleming, L. (2011). The Buehler Family Foundation Enabling Garden, Naples Florida. AHTA News Magazine, 39(3), 13-14.
Gendall, J. (2010). Senior circuit (A playground in London’s Hyde Park is designed for older exercisers). Landscape Architecture, 100(9), 110-114.
Guerro, A. (n.d.). Increasing inclusion in the school garden A resource packet for garden educators. School Garden Project of Lane County.
Kahn, Jr., P.H., Weiss, T. et al. (2018). Modeling child–nature interaction in a nature preschool: Proof of concept. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 835. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00835
Marcaccio, A. (2020). Ramps and garden accessibility. Digging In, 6(1), 9.
Morgan, S.C. (2019). Considerations and adaptations to safely accommodate program participants. In R. Haller, K. Kennedy & C. Capra (Eds.), The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy. CRC Press.
Palsdottir, AM., Spendrup, S., Martensson, L. & Wendin, K. (2021). Garden smellscape: Exploring plant scents for human wellbeing. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1330: XV International People Plant Symposium and II International Symposium on Horticultural Therapies: The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development.
Perry, M., Cotes, L., Horton, B., Kunac, R., Snell, I., Taylor, B., Wright, A. & Devan, H. (2021). "Enticing" but not necessarily a "Space Designed for Me": Experiences of urban park use by older adults with disability. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(2), 552. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020552
Pollin, S. & Retzlaff-Furst, C. (2021). The school garden: A social and emotional place. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 567720. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.567720
Raske, M. (2010) Nursing home quality of life: Study of an enabling garden. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 53(4), 336-351, DOI: 10.1080/01634371003741482
> Examples of enabling gardens & adaptive gardening
.Brandermill Woods Alzheimer’s Garden is a contained garden for people living with dementia and their families with non-toxic plants, seating areas & water features in this safe secure garden.
Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital has an enabling garden as part of its rehab services in Malvern, PA.
Buehler Enabling Garden at Chicago Botanic Garden in Illinois.
Guelph Enabling Garden is a garden for use by anyone, but especially for community members with physical and cognitive challenges.
Kernan Rehabilitation Center in Baltimore, MD. uses different paving materials on its path to include people working to regain their mobility at this Sacred Place garden.
Michigan State University’s Enabling Gardens was inspired by Gene Rothert’s book The Enabling Garden. A brochure about the garden can be downloaded.
Naples Botanical Garden Buehler Family Foundation Enabling Garden, Naples, FL, is an example of a public garden designed specifically with enabling features, reducing physical barriers to gardening.
Natural Growth Project in London, England, has 30 community garden sites at 2 locations organized by the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.
Portland Memory Garden in Oregon is a collaborative effort designed to meet the needs of people with memory disorders & care partners.
Sacred Place at the League for People with Disabilities, Baltimore, MD incorporates a babbling brook as a multi-sensory design feature in the garden.
Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown, MA has a therapeutic walking trail.
The Angie Fowler Adolescent and Young Adult Rooftop Garden at University Hospital’s Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Ohio encourages children, families & visitors to play & enjoy hands-on exploration & moveable play structures.
The Activities Garden at Arbor Terrace, Middleton, NJ. independent living, assisted living & dementia care residence provides outdoor plant filled space for range of activities for residents, families & programming.
Vera A. Scherer Garden at a high school for special needs students with accessible features.
Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital has an enabling garden as part of its rehab services in Malvern, PA.
Buehler Enabling Garden at Chicago Botanic Garden in Illinois.
Guelph Enabling Garden is a garden for use by anyone, but especially for community members with physical and cognitive challenges.
Kernan Rehabilitation Center in Baltimore, MD. uses different paving materials on its path to include people working to regain their mobility at this Sacred Place garden.
Michigan State University’s Enabling Gardens was inspired by Gene Rothert’s book The Enabling Garden. A brochure about the garden can be downloaded.
Naples Botanical Garden Buehler Family Foundation Enabling Garden, Naples, FL, is an example of a public garden designed specifically with enabling features, reducing physical barriers to gardening.
Natural Growth Project in London, England, has 30 community garden sites at 2 locations organized by the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.
Portland Memory Garden in Oregon is a collaborative effort designed to meet the needs of people with memory disorders & care partners.
Sacred Place at the League for People with Disabilities, Baltimore, MD incorporates a babbling brook as a multi-sensory design feature in the garden.
Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown, MA has a therapeutic walking trail.
The Angie Fowler Adolescent and Young Adult Rooftop Garden at University Hospital’s Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Ohio encourages children, families & visitors to play & enjoy hands-on exploration & moveable play structures.
The Activities Garden at Arbor Terrace, Middleton, NJ. independent living, assisted living & dementia care residence provides outdoor plant filled space for range of activities for residents, families & programming.
Vera A. Scherer Garden at a high school for special needs students with accessible features.
> Videos, webinars & websites on ENABLING GARDENS & ADAPTIVE GARDENING
Adaptive Gardening Tools short video from Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation introduces tools useful for adaptive gardening.
Enabling Garden, Altoona, Iowa, video shares photos of its garden, as a joint initiative with master gardeners & the City of Altoona
The Discovery Garden at Washington State University offers information on an Extension Discovery Garden’s enabling garden, ergonomic tools, plans for raised beds & accessible structures
Enabling Gardens: The Practical Side of Horticultural Therapy webpage from Rutgers New Jersey Agriculture Experiment Station offers historical information and design considerations.
GardenTech: How to Create a More Accessible Garden. Discussion on three methods that make gardening accessible to people with physical limitations.
In '& Thou Shalt Honor', D. Bell interviews geriatric physician Dr. Bill Thomas on The Eden Alternative as “the reinterpretation of the environment elders live in.
Tools and Strategies for Adaptive Gardening a video featuring horticultural therapist Teresia Hazen at Stenzel Therapeutic Garden at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital (2019)
USA Botanical Gardens list of accessible gardens across the US also includes links to the gardens, where additional information if available.
University of Florida: IFAS Extension Gardening in the Panhandle: Enabling Technique for Raised Bed Gardens. Information on advantages of raised beds and instructions for building one.
Enabling Garden, Altoona, Iowa, video shares photos of its garden, as a joint initiative with master gardeners & the City of Altoona
The Discovery Garden at Washington State University offers information on an Extension Discovery Garden’s enabling garden, ergonomic tools, plans for raised beds & accessible structures
Enabling Gardens: The Practical Side of Horticultural Therapy webpage from Rutgers New Jersey Agriculture Experiment Station offers historical information and design considerations.
GardenTech: How to Create a More Accessible Garden. Discussion on three methods that make gardening accessible to people with physical limitations.
In '& Thou Shalt Honor', D. Bell interviews geriatric physician Dr. Bill Thomas on The Eden Alternative as “the reinterpretation of the environment elders live in.
Tools and Strategies for Adaptive Gardening a video featuring horticultural therapist Teresia Hazen at Stenzel Therapeutic Garden at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital (2019)
USA Botanical Gardens list of accessible gardens across the US also includes links to the gardens, where additional information if available.
University of Florida: IFAS Extension Gardening in the Panhandle: Enabling Technique for Raised Bed Gardens. Information on advantages of raised beds and instructions for building one.
> Related organizations
Center of Design for an Aging Society
Defiant Gardens
Easter Seals: 'Living with Disabilities
Population-focused organizations such as: American Liver Foundation (ALF), Mental Health America, etc.
Defiant Gardens
Easter Seals: 'Living with Disabilities
Population-focused organizations such as: American Liver Foundation (ALF), Mental Health America, etc.
Written & compiled by Lesley Fleming, Susan Morgan Nov 2021; revised in 2023 by Leah Diehl, Lesley Fleming, Bree Stark.