Following on our earlier post here about getting our clients and caregivers out into the garden, and how health promoting working and being with plants is, I thought I'd talk a little about therapeutic or healing gardens. These are fairly new types of landscape design concepts and practices, though in many ways gardens for healing, restoration, respite, and sanctuary have always been present since the time humans first started nurturing plants.

There are a number of different types of therapeutic or healing gardens, some with general healing intents, and others with more specific purposes.  There are healing gardens designed specifically for Alzheimer, cancer, psychiatric or rehab center patients. Other gardens focus on assisted living facilities, residential memory units, adult day care or continuing care communities, or vocational schools. And yet others are intended for respite or meditation.

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