Read about Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Museum programs for people with dementia and their caregivers. More than memories: Brooklyn’s cultural institutions invite people with memory loss to live in the moment ..read more

Tuesday, October 11 and Tuesday, Nov 1 from 11am – 1pm Preregistration required Come to the Children’s Garden to enjoy gardening activities in accessible raised planting beds. Harvest herbs and vegetables, make a flower bouquet, and pot up a plant to take home. This is a drop-in program designed for people with dementia and their caregivers. Our experienced Garden Guides will assist you during your visit. Enjoy a beautiful day at BBG: Garden in our new raised beds. Weed, water, plant bulbs, or sit and enjoy the view. Explore seasonal highlights in the Garden, either self-guided or with one o ..read more

Learn from horticultural therapist Joanne D’Auria (of HortAbility LLC) how the garden can foster multiple healing benefits for those experiencing and working in the garden. She delves into the history of horticulture therapy, the scientific evidence backing it up, how we can all benefit from it, and ways to incorporate practices in your garden for all ages and populations. Virtual workshop hosted as part of our GrowNYC Beginner Gardener Intensive on June 2, 2022. More resources on grownycdistancelearning.org Healing in the Garden (Virtual Workshop) Brooklyn Botanic Garden Bluebell Wood May 202 ..read more

Pampering our plants at home Photo by Huy Phan on Pexels.com Why do people love plants? Is it the flowers, the color or scent? Is it the shade and clean air trees provide? Or is it the miracle of their growth cycle that happens right before our eyes?  Or perhaps it’s the peace that we experience while walking through a garden or along a tree-lined path.  There we relax, take a big breath and exhale all the tension in our bodies and mind. Whatever your reason for loving plants, how can bring some of that outdoor joy and peace of mind indoors?  Horticultural therapy is a practice ..read more

Welcome to HortAbility! In this Horticultural Therapy (HT) blog space I’ll share my experiences, ideas for seasonal activities, and strategies for working with all populations.   Being in nature and working with plants has so many great benefits for everyone. We are soothed by green colors, we decompress, breath deeply and relax. Working with plants is a great equalizer.  Everyone can have a green thumb no matter your background, level of intelligence, experience or skill. Most people have some kind of history with plants and nature.  Not all of them favorable – I remember ..read more