Garden Therapy At Maples Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

Participation by local clubs in Garden Therapy is an activity that is encouraged by The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts and the National Garden Club. This is the third year we have been participating in Garden Therapy as a Garden Club of Norfolk Project. We have again arranged with the activities coordinator at Maples Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Wrentham for a group of our members to come there from 2:00-3:00 PM four times this year.

We assist a group of residents in making twelve seasonal centerpieces for their dining room tables. This is a program that may be appropriate for those who are not able to help with our ACE gardens in the summer.

May 2020

Maples Rehabilitation and Nursing Center was closed to all visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

February 2020

December 2019

Event was cancelled due to a snowstorm.

October 2019

May 2019

February 2019

December 2018

September 2018

April 2018

February 2018

December 2017

October 2017

April 2017

December 2016

October 2016

Residents made fall themed arrangements using a combination of fresh and artificial flowers, dried rye from a local farm and artificial leaves to decorate their dining room for fall. We were pleased to see that returning residents were able to assist new participants in the project. Paper pumpkins were assembled by residents to take back to their rooms. The components of the pumpkins were preassembled by a Garden Club member, to ease assembly and meet time restraints of the program.

Year One 2015-2016

April 2016
Residents loved planting pansies and sweet alyssum in the Maples collection of patterned tea cups. Plans to plant lettuce and pansies were altered by cold and rainy weather, so the plants were instead planted in planters which were put on the patio when the weather improved. We discussed butterflies and their population decline as the residents colored butterflies to take back to their rooms..

February 2016
Residents made Valentine themed centerpieces for their dining tables. They also made paper flowers to take back to their rooms. During the activity we discussed poppies, peonies and carnations which the paper flowers resembled.