As early as the 17th century people celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green ribbons and sporting the lively three leafed shamrock. But did you know that green was not always the color associated with Ireland? The color that actually represents St. Patrick is blue and it still appears on some ancient Irish flags. The transition to green began during the 1798 Irish Rebellion, when the three-leaf clover became symbolic of Irish nationalism and bright green uniforms emblematic of hoped-for independence. The country had already been characterized as the Emerald Isle in 1795 by William Drennan in his poem “When Erin first rose” for its verdant countryside, and so it seems a natural evolution that green would become the national color.

Leprechaun lore in connection to Ireland is less clearly defined than the national color but according to Time Magazine, spotting a leprechaun is good luck but not an easy task. Known to be shoe makers, the sound of a fairy’s shoe hammer might lead one to a pot of gold only to have the mischievous creature snatch the riches away with an act of trickery. On St. Patrick’s Day, as another legend goes, anyone not wearing leprechaun green will risk being pinched by one of these cunning little imps!

With these stories as a backdrop for the March garden therapy project, the residents of the Gregory Wing and Safe Havens happily engaged in the creation of bright green ribbon wreaths in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Green fabric strips in all shades and patterns were tied around Styrofoam forms to fashion the wreaths that even included a bit of gold to remind everyone of the possibility of finding gold coins at the end of a rainbow. Once the ribbons were all in place the volunteers from the Boothbay Region Garden Club assisted residents in attaching glittery shamrocks to hang in the center of each wreath!

Garden therapy is sponsored by the Boothbay Region Garden Club whose members visit the Village with a new and interactive project each month.

If you are interested in joining the garden club therapy team, contact Sandra Abernathy at sandra0718@gmail.com