Study confirms healing powers of gardens

For years, visitors to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Fla., commented on the positive impact of the public gardens, even how they helped overcome grief and loss. To measure its beneficial health effects, Morikami officials partnered with Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Fla. Atlantic Univ. The Morikami won a $110, 283 Nat’l Leadership Grant for Museums to finance the study. The 1st part of the project examined the effectiveness of 3 interventions aimed at alleviating depression symptoms among seniors. It was determined that there was no significant difference between walking a garden with a trained therapist who provided “guided imagery,” walking in a garden on one’s own or receiving art therapy outside of a garden environment. However, the guided imagery group had a greater increase in positive emotion word-use in comparison to the walk alone group. Based on the study results a booklet, “Stroll for Well-Being: Garden Walks at The Morikami,” and program were developed. The Morikami offers a Stroll for Well-Being program twice a year. A manual has also been created that is available on the Morikami’s Web site to provide other organizations with info about offering similar programs.