10/25/07
Azalea Garden Club brings garden therapy project to DSNB
By Cathy Gilbert

Submitted Photo

Members of the Azalea Garden Club shared a “garden therapy” project with two of the clients of the Clarendon County Disabilities and Special Needs Board. Pictured left to right are DSNB client Linda Sigler; club members Judy Latham, Mary Lou Schoek and Carolyn Rearick; and DSNB client Melissa Holliday. The garden club member taught Linda and Melissa how to plant and care for two beautiful containers of panolas.

There is nothing like the pride in seeing living things grow and flourish to bring joy into one’s life.

On Oct. 9, members of Manning’s Azalea Garden Club worked together with clients from the Disabilities and Special Needs Board on a container gardening project held at DSNB.

Garden Therapy members Carolyn Rearick and Mary Lou Schoeck arrived with all of the needed supplies and were greeted by clients Melissa Holliday and Linda Sigler, who were excited and ready to get started. Club member Judy Latham was also on hand to help.

“It was truly a group effort,” said Rearick. “Everyone helped in the entire potting process. Melissa, Linda and other clients observing the process asked wonderful questions along each step of the way. It was a very educational experience. Clients were also given printed directions for follow-up care.”

According to Eva Shaw, Ph.D., author of Shovel It: Nature’s Health Plan, gardening reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and helps fight depression. A study done by Kaiser Permanente (a health care insurance provider), showed the brainwave activity of a gardener mirrored that of someone praying or meditating.

Thanks to the Azalea Garden Club and garden therapy caregivers, Melissa and Linda now each have a beautiful planter of panolas to display outside their home throughout the winter.

According to Rearick, a panola is a cross between a pansy and a viola and is a prolific bloomer. Garden Therapy committee members Rearick and Schoeck will follow-up throughout the winter with Melissa and Linda.

“We (the Garden Therapy committee) encourage our members to have contact with special needs groups and initiate garden-centered activities for the purpose of improving their lives,” Rearick added.

Rearick said special thanks also go to Ronda Ritchie and Angela Lucky of the DSNB for their work with the Garden Therapy committee in coordinating this project.