Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76FEBRUARY 2017 SEEDWORLD.COM / 53 “We know gardens are good for people, and when you take people with special needs or disabilities or recuperating and add that element in, you know a garden is doing so much good,” she shares. Therapeutic Value Seeds and plants have been used in medicine and for therapy of various types throughout the ages. Their effects on the human brain are well documented — opiates, found in a variety of plants, are well known for their ability to relieve pain. Morphine was first isolated between 1803 and 1805 by Friedrich Sertürner. This is generally believed to be the first isolation of an active ingredient from a plant. Since then, researchers have been on a mission to discover what plants have to offer in the realm of medicine and prod- ucts that bring therapeutic value to the public. For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine has used plants and herbs to support various aspects of human wellbeing — everything from ginkgo to chrysanthemum to goji berries. It was announced in December that the new Amway Botanical Research Center in Wuxi, China, will expand its research in evaluating plants used in traditional Chinese medicine for their potential benefits in future health and beauty products. But it’s plants themselves, and not just their chemical makeup, that have been prized throughout the millennia for their therapeutic benefits. Barb Kreski supervises the Horticultural Therapy Services department at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Her background spans a wide range of clinical settings including psychiatric hospitals, the Hines Veterans Administration Hospital, skilled nursing facilities, public schools and pediatric rehabilitation. She has incorporated plant- and nature-based interventions in her work in each of these settings. “People breathe a sigh and their shoulders relax and they drop a large degree of their stress within less than a minute upon entering our garden or their own garden,” Kreski says. “That aspect, spending time in a natural setting, is stress reduc- ing. Many studies have borne that out.” The Chicago Botanic Garden opened more than 40 years ago as a beautiful place to visit, and it has matured into one of the world's great living museums and conservation sci- ence centers. In 2015, more than 1 million people visited its 27 gardens and four natural areas, uniquely situated on 385 acres on and around nine islands, with six miles of lake shoreline. The garden also has a renowned bonsai collection. Garden directors are always on the lookout for new plant varieties that cater to its reputation as a beautiful, calming place to visit. “We are seeking plants with a high sensory value that appeal to not just vision and scent, but also textures and even sound. When we find new types of those plants, we’re thrilled,” Kreski says. “Because we have scientists here at the garden who actually develop new cultivars, I’ve learned how intense and long term that process is and how much luck is involved, in addition to how much detailed skill is needed.” Some of Kreski’s favorites include Pallida, an iris that smells like grape soda. “People are so startled to find that scent attached to a flower,” she says. According to Blazek, the garden and flower seed industry in general are looking for much the same kind of qualities in new seed varieties. “They’re looking for anything any home gar- NATIONAL GARDEN BUREAU AWARDS $5,000 IN GRANTS TO HORTICULTURE THERAPY GARDENS National Garden Bureau’s (NGB) annual grant program, Growing for Futures, has selected three therapeutic gardens to receive grants totaling $5,000. Growing for Futures is the philanthropic program of NGB that supports the building and growth of therapeutic gardens across North America.  Lee College’s horticulture program at O. B. Ellis Unit, in Huntsville, Texas, took first place ($3,000). This program offers an A.A.S. degree in horticulture as well as certificates in horticulture and landscape management. Students have additional opportunities through the Texas A&M Master Gardener’s Program. Located within the prison complex, the site includes individual gardens, a community garden, greenhouses, a nursery area, a parakeet aviary, aquaponics enclosure and a classroom/computer lab. The students in the program are convicted felons who come from diverse backgrounds that often include veterans, ex-gang members and others with a history of substance abuse and mental health or emotional issues. Second place ($1,000) went to the Vogel Alcove Early Childhood Education Program in Dallas, Texas. Vogel Alcove offers access to a therapeutic early childhood learning program to young children (216 served to date) affected by homelessness. The program addresses the developmental needs of children with delayed social-emotional, cognitive and physical development. It is a leader in the field of early childhood education of traumatized children. Preschool children enjoy access to therapeutic gardens in “The Backyard,” an outdoor space that includes raised bed vegetable, sensory and wildlife gardens. Third place ($1,000) was awarded to the Alice and Herbert Sachs Therapeutic Conservatory and Garden in Elkins Park, Penn. It offers patients recovering from traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, amputation and other complex conditions a beautiful oasis while also offering them an opportunity to meet their rehab goals through horticulture therapy. A registered horticultural therapist is trained in the use of horticulture as a modality for supporting an individual in physical rehabilitation. Patients are able to engage in horticultural therapy through group, individual and co-treat sessions with occupational, physical and speech therapists.