Healing gardens have a long history, starting with Japanese Zen gardens and the peaceful cloister gardens. Claude Monet used his garden to recover from depression and then painted it to help heal France after the war. For years, these gardens have been a comfort in hospitals and healthcare settings, offering peace to patients, families, and staff1.
Studies show that being in nature can change us for the better. It lowers blood pressure, heart rate, and stress levels, and boosts mood1. We all face stress daily, and having a healing garden can bring us closer to nature’s healing touch. It can improve our health and happiness.
Key Takeaways
- Healing gardens can positively impact physical and mental health by reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and enhancing mood.
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities have long used healing gardens to provide a restorative space for patients, families, and staff.
- Creating your own healing garden at home can bring the benefits of nature into your daily life.
- Incorporating design elements like pathways, water features, and wildlife-attracting plants can enhance the therapeutic experience.
- Choosing plants that trigger positive emotions and are low-maintenance can make your healing garden a sustainable oasis.
Establish Goals for Your Healing Garden
Creating a restorative or enabling garden needs careful planning. Start by picking your top three health concerns or goals for the garden2. Studies show that people who use healing gardens have lower blood pressure, take less medicine, and heal faster2. Knowing if you want to heal or engage with the garden will help with the design.
Restorative vs. Enabling Gardens
Restorative gardens help you heal by letting you walk or sit in them2. They use senses like memory, touch, smell, and taste to make you feel calm and relaxed2. On the other hand, enabling gardens need you to actively garden to get therapeutic benefits2. Both types of gardens can make you feel better emotionally, mentally, and socially3.
Prioritize Design Features Based on Your Needs
After deciding on a restorative or enabling garden, focus on design features that fit your needs2. For example, gardens with scents and different colors and shapes can make you more active or calm2. It’s also key to use plants that are safe to touch and eat in therapeutic gardens2. Make sure the garden is safe and easy to get around, with wide paths and raised beds for those who can’t walk well2.
Setting clear goals and design priorities helps you make a healing garden that really helps you3. With the right plan, your backyard can be a peaceful spot or a place for gardening therapy4.
“I started my gardening journey with just 5 minutes a day during recovery, which evolved into becoming a Master Gardener, permaculturalist, and an award-winning author of 12 books over almost two decades.”4
Design Elements for a Therapeutic Garden
Designing a healing garden can boost both mental and physical health5. To make a peaceful spot in your backyard, think about the right hardscape and landscape elements. These can help you feel restored and calm.
Hardscape: Paths, Patios, and Privacy Walls
See your garden as an outdoor room. Use paths and patios that look good and work well to connect different areas. They help guide you and catch your eye as you move through the garden5. Privacy walls or screens can make areas feel more private and cozy.
Use natural materials like driftwood, stone, or weathered wood for a calming feel.
Incorporate Water Features, Sound, and Lighting
Water sounds can deeply relax you6. Add a small fountain, stream, or pool to your garden. Sounds from wind chimes or bird feeders can also make the experience richer5. Lighting, like LED fixtures, can make the garden look beautiful at night.
With these design elements, you can make a garden that meets your needs6. Whether you want to reduce stress, enjoy nature more, or have a quiet place to think, the right design can turn your garden into a healing space576.
Attract Wildlife for Healing Energy
Creating a vibrant garden can bring more wildlife to your space, making it more healing. By adding birdhouses, feeders, and birdbaths, you can attract butterflies, birds, and insects8. These creatures add beauty and help heal your garden with their presence9.
To attract hummingbirds, plant Jacob Cline beebalm for its nectar. Joe-Pye weed, purple coneflowers, and asters draw in butterflies and pollinators8. These plants make your garden look great and show you care about healing yourself9.
A healing garden’s energy helps you match your vibes with nature’s calm, bringing peace and harmony9. Being alone in this garden can deeply improve your health9.
Creating a healing garden with nature can make a space full of joy and prosperity9. By drawing in wildlife, you make a beautiful place that helps you heal and grow8.
In London, The Morgan Stanley Garden at Great Ormond Street Hospital has made a positive change8. In Guildford, the Normandy Therapy Garden focuses on healing8. These gardens show how adding wildlife can help people and communities10.
| Healing Garden Examples | Location | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| The Morgan Stanley Garden | London | Positive community impact |
| Normandy Therapy Garden | Guildford | Healing |
By letting nature into your garden, you make a place that feeds the soul and attracts wildlife9. This connection between humans, plants, and animals shows nature’s healing power8.
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature, and God. As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, then there will be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be.”
– Anne Frank
Can You Grow a Garden That Heals?
Absolutely! Creating a therapeutic garden can boost your health and happiness. Choose plants that make you feel good, like zinnias or lavender11. Bright colors can lift your mood, while calming colors can reduce stress11.
Choose Plants for Therapeutic Benefits
Adding plants that remind you of happy times can be healing. Think about using rosemary or lavender in your garden11. Plants for tea, like chamomile or lemon balm, are great too11.
Grow Medicinal Herbs and Healing Plants
Your garden can be a source of natural remedies12. Consider adding calendula or holy basil for their healing properties12. These plants help with inflammation, stress, and skin issues1112.
Other herbs like mint or sage can also be part of your garden12. Growing your own herbs means better quality and savings12.
Plan your garden with care, considering each plant’s needs and how they’ll work together12. With the right mix, your garden can be a peaceful place for healing11.
“Gardening is the ultimate form of nature healing, as it connects us to the earth and allows us to witness the cycle of life firsthand.” – Unknown
Create Seating Areas for Relaxation
In your healing garden, it’s key to have inviting seating for relaxation and rejuvenation13. Studies show that being in a healing garden can lower blood pressure and ease anxiety14. It can also boost your mood and improve your thinking skills.
Begin with a simple bench or lightweight chairs for the best nature views14. Add plants like peace lilies and herbs like lavender and mint for a calming feel14. Make sure your seating fits well with your home’s style.
Enhance your seating with sheer curtains or plants to create a private spot14. Add cozy nooks for quiet time and thought14. Make sure everyone can easily get to your garden and seating areas.
For extra comfort, add an outdoor carpet, bookshelf, or blanket box14. Use materials like stone, brick, or wood to match your home14. Add soft lighting at night and a fire pit for cool evenings.
14 Even a small garden or a spot for growing veggies can be healing15. Healing gardens help with health and bring calm. Plan your seating to make your garden a peaceful place to relax.
“A garden is a healing place, a place to find respite, a place to find peace and quiet, and a place to reflect on the beauty of nature.”
Conclusion
Creating a healing garden is like the journey of getting better from illness. It takes time, so be patient. As Thoreau said, “Nature is another name for health.”16 A garden connects us to nature, helping us heal and improve our health in many ways17. It not only makes our bodies stronger but also helps our minds, feelings, and spirits18.
The key takeaways from this look at wellness gardens are clear. Gardening is good for our health, lowers stress and anxiety, boosts our immune system, and helps us heal16. By adding special design features, attracting wildlife, and growing healing plants, you can make a garden that supports your health and wellness17. As you grow and heal, remember, it’s not just about reaching a goal. It’s about the journey of taking care of your healing garden18.
FAQ
What are the two types of healing gardens?
How can I prioritize design features for my healing garden?
What hardscape elements should I include in my therapeutic garden?
How can I attract wildlife to my healing garden?
What types of plants should I grow in my healing garden?
How can I create a relaxing seating area in my healing garden?
Source Links
- How to Create a Healing Garden
- Healing Garden
- Healing Gardens – alive magazine
- The Healing Power of Gardening: Using the Garden for Recovery – Garden Therapy
- Design a Healing Garden – KidsGardening
- Create Your Own Healing Garden
- How to Design a Therapy Garden
- How to create your home healing garden?
- The healing garden and the law of attraction
- Hospital Healing Gardens & Landscape Architecture
- What to Plant in a Healing Garden
- Grow Your Own Healing Garden With These 10 Medicinal Herbs
- Healing Garden: Creating Tranquil and Therapeutic Outdoor Space
- The Healing Power of Holistic Gardening and Landscape Design – Colorado Homes & Lifestyles
- Healing Gardens for Peace and Wellness – %
- A Healing Garden – Cultivar Greenhouses Inc. | USA
- Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening
- From Garden to Recovery Plate: Growing Your Own Healing Foods – Interventionist | Licensed Professional Family Interventions
