June 6, 2017 Garden Therapy diary: Today was as usual -- cold, grey and rainy! The annual project for the month of June is to fill planters and containers that are usually found in the Gregory Wing courtyard. But, for the second straight year, the weather did not cooperate. Instead we worked indoors combining two very large containers with an additional one to create double tiers for the plantings. We filled the lower tiers with a variety of colorful flowers that would encourage the residents to water them throughout the summer and to dead head them as well (deliberate choice). At the top level cherry tomatoes were added to the planter surrounded by basil (useful for Friday pizza night). A stack of planters with side pockets were filled with individual strawberry plants (that will hopefully bear fruit). Then a number of small planters were filled with more flowering plants.

The residents were able to watch the progress, smell the fresh scent of basil and offer their approval of the planting arrangements. All containers were moved into the courtyard (gardeners with muscles) with the hope that the sun would shine upon them soon. Kudos to Faith Meyer who disregarded the possibility (read, probability) of getting covered with potting soil and made sure that all twelve strawberry plants were safely and securely tucked into their pockets. With many hands cleaning up with brooms and dustpans you could hardly tell that the project had been done indoors. Let's hope for sunshine in the days to come!

This annual project by the Boothbay Region Garden Club, as recounted by Nan Jackson, co-chair of Garden Therapy, is one of several activities at the Gregory Wing designed to engage residents in ongoing interests that can provide a sense of continuity and meaning to lives limited by circumstance.

Garden Therapy offers a wonderful way to volunteer at the Village while pursuing a pastime rooted in the appreciation of nature. For more information on all Garden Club goings-on check out the BRGC website at http://www.boothbayregiongardenclub.org/. BRGC is affiliated with NGC (National Garden Clubs Inc.) and is a member of the GCFM (Garden Club Federation of Maine).