There was an article written in the Eureka Reporter in Eureka, Calif., about Marylee Bytheriver  who lives in Eureka. It was publish November 3o, 2007.

Its all about Ms. Bytheriver and her garden and how she enjoys working the property. When she and her husband first purchased the property there was no garden and not much of a yard, but Marylee started working the soil and by using composting techniques improved the property and set about growing plants. She also installed a drip watering method to make the garden work minimal.

She has enjoyed the growth of the garden and the neighbors reaction to her plants.  As it states in the writeup she considers her garden therapy and her gift to the community. It gives her great joy to see people smile as they take in the color and beauty of the garden. They travel quite a distance to view her gardens.

She feel a lot like me when it comes to gardening being a therapy. Sunshine, fresh air, exercise and enjoying the yard all make gardening fun. Yes, it’s work but even the work can be minimized with proper planning. The minute gardening stops being fun is when you step back and see how to simplify it.

Plus you can control time in the garden by how much you plant. Try planting a window sill garden, terrarium or container gardening if time is limited.

Bytheriver also uses found items as garden art. She has lined some of her gardens with wine bottle collected from a recycling center and has metal sculptures and newel posts in her yard. She even uses broken plates to line one of her garden areas. I have done this also and like the look.

Another friend of mine used plates and embedded them into a wall she was making. It’s a cross between mosaic and collage.  It took her about three years to finish the project.

Bytheriver uses many inventive garden techniques and plays with color schemes in the garden. She also tries to have something growing all year long in the garden.

If you would like to check out the entire rest article and catch more of her garden tips follow this link:

http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=31147

The future 

As with all die hard gardeners they have something new in the garden each year and love to share there ideas and tips with gardeners.  Bythervievers gardens continue to change abd grow and as long as people continue to enjoy the plants I’m sure there will be a garden.

Exercise, fresh air and watching plants grow are only a few of the relaxing healthy benefits of gardening.

For me the challenge of laying out gardens and combining color, shape and textures add to the enjoyment. Throw in different and unusual plants and garden art pieces and a trip to the garden becomes an adventure. By bringing in plants or having a small greenhouse or sun room you can enjoy nature al the time.

All aspects of gardening have relaxing qualities, but many will agree flowers seem to bring instant peace and contentment. Is it the fragrance? Color? Texture? More than likely the combination

Flower Thereapy in healing is beoming more important in many hospitals and therapy center. Many are incorporating gardens, greenhouses and floral arrangements scattered in hallways and rooms.

A study called “The Art of Healing” is being studied and practiced aroung the world. The concept was started by Dr. Edward Bach in England. Through his obseravtions and study of homeopathy he studied the effects of flowers on health.

As stated in the article, “Flower Therapy acts on man as a whole, awakening his inner healing force, stimulating a change of conscience and, indirectly, a change in the energetic structure that acts over pathologic processes, modifying them. “

If you would like to know more about his studies and how he used this information check out the story from the Cuban Daily News and Cuba Now. http:www.cubaheadlines.com/2007/10/30/6726/flower_therapy_an_approach_to_the_art_of_healing

Its proven that art acts as a therapy and has a relaxing healing effect on many people. Hospitals and therapy center are incorporating art in their building and garden areas to help relax patients and their families that visit.

photo credit: h.koppdelaney

Maggie O’Neill wrote the article Healing with Art which was in the Reno Gazette October 30, 2007. It covers the art that is being hung this week and is on exibit at the new Tahoe Tower in the Renown Regional Center in Nevada.

The article covers the topics of art and its relaxing effects. The Renown Regional Center has a “Healing Arts” program that they have used since the 1990’s.

The article is interesting in the fact that is also talks about the hanging of the various art styles, art media and the work involved in hanging a show.

Healing Garden

Plans will start in a year at the Renown Center for an outdoor healing garden that will be located between 3 of their buildings. It was called a “Central Park” in the article. The outdoor healing garden will have a water theme and one piece by David Kessler called the “Sunrise Shimmer” which is located in the Tahoe Tower will be the link between the indoor art and outdoor healing gardens.

The Tahoe Tower will be the introduction to therapy that relaxes both patients and their families with the addition of the gardens as a place to relax and enjoy family.

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