Garden Therapy
Led by: Mary Ellen Christopher
Garden Therapy is defined as; the use of garden-related activities as an aid to the recovery and rehabilitation of people and to spend time and help them be creative and learn. HGC has a partnership with Manor Care in Towson. We visit them normally four times a year to do a garden related craft, chat with them, and share a snack. Some of the projects are floral arrangements. We provide a container and the silk/dried flowers cut to size and help them make the arrangement. They also like decoration the containers with stickers. Another craft is making a foam wreath and can be hung on their door. We are doing much more than making a craft, we are making friends. The ladies and gentlemen love to chat with us. We talk about their interest in gardening, what flowers they like, and what kind of gardens they may have had. This project is a win-win for both the nursing home residents and HGC members.
Cromwell Valley Park Children’s Garden
Led by: Mary Ellen Pluemer
Starting in 2016, HGC has developed 4 areas within the CHildren’s Garden on the property of Willow Grove Farm at Cromwell Valley Park.
We have developed and we maintain the following:
-Native/Pollinator Garden with a ‘secret pathway’ for little ones, plus honeysuckle bushes that attract hummingbirds and photographers from all over! Honeysuckle bushes were pruned to the ground in Spring 2022 as the trellis had broken under the weight of their tremendous growth. Blooms returned by June!
-A shady fern and hosta garden with plant identification signs for educational purposes. Our mascot dog ‘Cromwell’ was added Summer of 2022.
-A ‘Memory Garden’ for quiet sitting and contemplation was added in 2021.
-A colorful hopscotch game designed and pained by club members.
For several years we have earned financial support through Federated Garden Clubs District III’s ‘Gifts for Great Gardens’ grant, which has helped make these projects possible. Hampton Garden Club has been recognized with several District awards for our efforts.
Parkville-Carney Public Library
Led by: Renee Mattson
In 2017 HGC responded to a request from the Parkville-Carney Library for landscaping help on the property. After much planning and soliciting help from Chris Pluemer, landscape architect, as well as acquiring funds from Gifts for Great Gardens, a grant through District III garden clubs, we went to work to revitalize the grounds! Since then we have won recognition as we:
-Prepared the garden area along the 70ft wall of the library building, planted and maintained bushes and plants chosen for growth potential in this location. Mulching was done by Baltimore County Crews. This has totally transformed the view of the building for folks coming up Joppa Road from the beltway! The choices have been great growers with little need of extra care except from Mother Nature!
-Developed an additional garden off the parking area which is planted and maintained by club members throughout the seasons.
-Established a strip of veggie plants, the produce being shared with library patrons.
-Transformed the children’s entrance by painting and installing bright fencing to the brick walls, and coordinated benches. Small logs were crated into a choo-choo train that holds fresh flowers, changing with the seasons.
Library staff and patrons have so appreciated the changes! A core group of HGC members help keep the area looking fresh throughout the year.