Therapeutic Gardens
'“A therapeutic garden is designed for use as a component of a treatment, rehabilitation, or vocational program. A garden can be described as being therapeutic in nature when it has been designed to meet the needs of a specific user or population. It is designed to accommodate participants' goals and to facilitate people-plant interactions” (AHTA, 2021).
Therapeutic gardens include: population specific therapeutic gardens for cancer patients, youth, veterans; horticultural therapy gardens; vocational rehabilitation farms, physical therapy garden; and reflexology paths.
Therapeutic gardens include: population specific therapeutic gardens for cancer patients, youth, veterans; horticultural therapy gardens; vocational rehabilitation farms, physical therapy garden; and reflexology paths.
> Key Organizations
American Horticultural Therapy Association
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Professional Practice (forums for health
challenges/populations
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Professional Practice (forums for health
challenges/populations
> Books, journals & E-publications on therapeutic gardens
Carman, J. (2006). Therapeutic gardens, chapter in Complementary and alternative medicine for older adults: A guide to holistic approaches to healthy aging.
Chalfont, G. (2007). Design for nature in dementia care. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Rodiek, S. & Schwarz, B. (Eds). (2007). Outdoor environments for people with dementia. The Haworth Press, Inc.
Winterbottom, D. & Wagenfeld, A. (2015). Therapeutic gardens: Design for healing spaces. Timber Press.
Chalfont, G. (2007). Design for nature in dementia care. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Rodiek, S. & Schwarz, B. (Eds). (2007). Outdoor environments for people with dementia. The Haworth Press, Inc.
Winterbottom, D. & Wagenfeld, A. (2015). Therapeutic gardens: Design for healing spaces. Timber Press.
> RESEARCH & ARTICLES ON THERAPEUTIC GARDENS
Recently published selected research & articles:
American Horticultural Therapy Association. (2021). Definitions and positions.
Ameli, R., Skeath, P., Abraham, P.A., Panahi, S., Kazman, J.B., Foote, F., Deuster, P.A., Ahmad, N. &
Berger, A. (2021). A nature-based health intervention at a military healthcare center randomized, controlled, cross-over study. Peer Journal 9:e10519.
Bumgarner, N. & Chance, L.G. (20xx). The role of public gardens in human well-being. Acta
Horticulturae (in press).
Burt, V. (2021). Healing gardens as transformational spaces. Acta Horticulturae (in press).
Cooper Marcus, C. (2008). For burn patients, a place to heal. Landscape Architecture 98(4):78-89.
Chapman, N., Hazen, T. & Noell-Waggoner, E. (2005). Encouraging development and use of gardens by caregivers of people with dementia. Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly 6(4).
Detweiler, M.B, Sharma, T., Detweiler, J.G., Murphy, P.F., Lane, S., Carman, J., Chudhary, A.S., Halling,
M.H. & Kim, K.Y. (2012). What is the evidence to support the use of therapeutic gardens for the elderly? Psychiatry Investigation 9(2):100-110.
Fleming, L. & Figueirdo, M. (2016). Healing gardens for cancer populations. In Therapeutic
Horticulture, a Practitioner’s Perspective. Smashwords.
Fleming, L. (2020). Therapeutic garden tips for home gardeners. National Garden Bureau.
Galbo, S.C. (n.d.). ‘All my hurts my garden spade can heal’: Horticultural therapy, present & future. Lit
Med Magazine.
Green, J. (2017). Empathize and then design [for people living with dementia]. The Dirt.
Hazen, T. (2007). Therapeutic garden characteristics. American Horticultural Therapy Association.
Lindemuth, A.L. (2007). Designing therapeutic environments for inmates and prison staff in the
United States: Precedents and contemporary applications. Journal of Mediterranean Ecology 8:87-97.
Munts, P. (2007). Healing goes beyond medicine: Gardens give patients bonus benefits. SpokesmanReview.com
Murroni, V., Cavalli, R., Basso, A., Borella, E., Meneghetti, C., Melendugno, A., Pazzaglia, F. (2021). Effectiveness of therapeutic gardens for people with dementia: A systematic review. International Journal Environ Res Public Health 18(18):9595.
Sadler, C.K. (2007). Design guidelines for effective hospice gardens using Japanese garden principles. Master of Landscape Architecture Thesis, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Ulrich, R.S. & Serene Perkins, R. (2017). The impact of a hospital garden on pregnant women and their partners. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing 31(2):186–87.
Ulrich, R.S., Cordoza, M., Gardiner, S.K., Manulik, B., Fitzpatrick, P.S., Hazen, T.M. & Perkins, R.S.
(2020). ICU patient family stress recovery during breaks in a hospital garden an indoor environments. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal 13(2):83-102.
American Horticultural Therapy Association. (2021). Definitions and positions.
Ameli, R., Skeath, P., Abraham, P.A., Panahi, S., Kazman, J.B., Foote, F., Deuster, P.A., Ahmad, N. &
Berger, A. (2021). A nature-based health intervention at a military healthcare center randomized, controlled, cross-over study. Peer Journal 9:e10519.
Bumgarner, N. & Chance, L.G. (20xx). The role of public gardens in human well-being. Acta
Horticulturae (in press).
Burt, V. (2021). Healing gardens as transformational spaces. Acta Horticulturae (in press).
Cooper Marcus, C. (2008). For burn patients, a place to heal. Landscape Architecture 98(4):78-89.
Chapman, N., Hazen, T. & Noell-Waggoner, E. (2005). Encouraging development and use of gardens by caregivers of people with dementia. Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly 6(4).
Detweiler, M.B, Sharma, T., Detweiler, J.G., Murphy, P.F., Lane, S., Carman, J., Chudhary, A.S., Halling,
M.H. & Kim, K.Y. (2012). What is the evidence to support the use of therapeutic gardens for the elderly? Psychiatry Investigation 9(2):100-110.
Fleming, L. & Figueirdo, M. (2016). Healing gardens for cancer populations. In Therapeutic
Horticulture, a Practitioner’s Perspective. Smashwords.
Fleming, L. (2020). Therapeutic garden tips for home gardeners. National Garden Bureau.
Galbo, S.C. (n.d.). ‘All my hurts my garden spade can heal’: Horticultural therapy, present & future. Lit
Med Magazine.
Green, J. (2017). Empathize and then design [for people living with dementia]. The Dirt.
Hazen, T. (2007). Therapeutic garden characteristics. American Horticultural Therapy Association.
Lindemuth, A.L. (2007). Designing therapeutic environments for inmates and prison staff in the
United States: Precedents and contemporary applications. Journal of Mediterranean Ecology 8:87-97.
Munts, P. (2007). Healing goes beyond medicine: Gardens give patients bonus benefits. SpokesmanReview.com
Murroni, V., Cavalli, R., Basso, A., Borella, E., Meneghetti, C., Melendugno, A., Pazzaglia, F. (2021). Effectiveness of therapeutic gardens for people with dementia: A systematic review. International Journal Environ Res Public Health 18(18):9595.
Sadler, C.K. (2007). Design guidelines for effective hospice gardens using Japanese garden principles. Master of Landscape Architecture Thesis, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Ulrich, R.S. & Serene Perkins, R. (2017). The impact of a hospital garden on pregnant women and their partners. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing 31(2):186–87.
Ulrich, R.S., Cordoza, M., Gardiner, S.K., Manulik, B., Fitzpatrick, P.S., Hazen, T.M. & Perkins, R.S.
(2020). ICU patient family stress recovery during breaks in a hospital garden an indoor environments. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal 13(2):83-102.
> Examples of therapeutic garden
Insight Garden Program uses innovative programming in vocational gardening and landscaping skills training for people in prison to reconnect with self, community, and the natural world.
Legacy Emanuel Children’s Garden, Portland Oregon is a 9,000 sq. ft garden for pediatric patients & families with play areas, quiet spaces & is used for therapeutic programming.
Olsen Family Garden, St. Lois Children’s Hospital, Missouri - the 18th floor garden in the hospital is used for therapeutic & restorative purposes.
Virtua Camden Hospital Meditation Garden was designed for therapeutic programs for children with horticultural therapy, meditation & therapeutic garden, it is integrated into health care services at this healthcare setting.
Therapy Garden at Merwick was developed for use by physical, occupational, speech & horticultural therapists, with walking paths, therapy care, raised planters & other accessible features.
The Els Center of Excellence Sensory Garden, Jupiter FL, was designed to offer varying levels of sensory experiences while minimizing sensory overload for people with autism.
Legacy Emanuel Children’s Garden, Portland Oregon is a 9,000 sq. ft garden for pediatric patients & families with play areas, quiet spaces & is used for therapeutic programming.
Olsen Family Garden, St. Lois Children’s Hospital, Missouri - the 18th floor garden in the hospital is used for therapeutic & restorative purposes.
Virtua Camden Hospital Meditation Garden was designed for therapeutic programs for children with horticultural therapy, meditation & therapeutic garden, it is integrated into health care services at this healthcare setting.
Therapy Garden at Merwick was developed for use by physical, occupational, speech & horticultural therapists, with walking paths, therapy care, raised planters & other accessible features.
The Els Center of Excellence Sensory Garden, Jupiter FL, was designed to offer varying levels of sensory experiences while minimizing sensory overload for people with autism.
> Videos, webinars & websites on therapeutic garden
Therapeutic gardens in North Carolina webpage lists several therapeutic gardens.
Legacy Therapy Garden in Portland Oregon.
Healthcare facilities: Healing gardens in healthcare webinar hosted by Boston Society of Architects/AIA (2021) has 3 experts talking about gardens at Brigham Young Hospital, Spaulding Rehab Hospital, & Boston Medical roof garden
Veterans Therapeutic Garden at Raymond G. Murphy Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico includes allied health professionals & their services with a focus on challenges faced by veterans.
Legacy Therapy Garden in Portland Oregon.
Healthcare facilities: Healing gardens in healthcare webinar hosted by Boston Society of Architects/AIA (2021) has 3 experts talking about gardens at Brigham Young Hospital, Spaulding Rehab Hospital, & Boston Medical roof garden
Veterans Therapeutic Garden at Raymond G. Murphy Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico includes allied health professionals & their services with a focus on challenges faced by veterans.
> Related organizations
Organizations that are population specific (i.e. American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, etc.)
Written & compiled by Lesley Fleming, Susan Morgan Nov 2021