It's been known for centuries that plants have the power to heal the body, but their ability to soothe the spirit and refresh the senses has not always been given the same attention. Now. at a time when so many of us are seeking spiritual renewal through the natural world, comes a wonderful new book from one of our best known and most personal garden writers. Marjorie Harris' The Heading Garden is a thoughtful exploration how much gardens can restore, teach, soothe and heal our minds and souls.The Healing Garden opens with a journey into the firs healing garden -- the wilderness, moving on to a history of how and why plants have been used as medicine, and then fully exploring how contemporary "horticultural therapy" is becoming an important part of the healing process for the sick or infirm. Harris looks at how gardens affect our senses; how colors and floral scents affect our moods, and how the power of a natural view may actually help people recover more quickly.Finally, she explains how we can design our own healing gardens to reflect our own personalities and spiritual needs. Whether you crave the solitude of a "Contemplative Garden", the sensuality of a "Tactile Garden", or the abandon of a "Wild Garden", Marjorie Hams shows simple and inexpensive ways to transform even the smallest garden into a personal healing sanctuary.Written in Marjorie Harris' very personal style, The Healing Garden will open another window of pleasure for all gardeners who already enjoy their own green oasis.

Although the healing qualities of nature have been recognized and relied on for centuries as a valuable part of convalescence, recent history has seen nature's therapeutic role virtually eclipsed by the technological dominance of modern medicine. As the twentieth century comes to a close and the medical community reacknowledges the importance of the environment to recovery, the healing garden is emerging as a supplement to drug- or technology-based treatments. Healing Gardens celebrates this renewed interest in nature as a catalyst for healing and renewal by examining the different therapeutic benefits of healing gardens and offering essential design guidance from experts in the field. Unique and comprehensive, Healing Gardens provides up-to-date coverage of research findings, relevant design principles and approaches, and best practice examples of different types of healing gardens. It begins by exploring what current research reveals about the connection between nature, human stress reduction, and medical outcomes. It then presents case studies and design guidelines for outdoor spaces in medical settings that include general, psychiatric, and children's hospitals as well as hospices, nursing homes, and Alzheimer's facilities. Historical information, literature reviews, and studies on use are included for each type of outdoor space covered, offering important insights into what works in healing gardens-and what doesn't. Generously supplemented with photographs, site plans, anecdotes, and more, Healing Gardens is an invaluable practical guide for landscape architects and others involved in creating and maintaining medical facilities, and an extremely useful reference for those responsible for patient care. A unique and comprehensive look at the therapeutic effects and design of healing gardens For more and more people, the shortest road to recovery is the one that leads through a healing garden. Combining up-to-date information on the therapeutic benefits of healing gardens with practical design guidance from leading experts in the field, Healing Gardens is an important resource for landscape architects and others working in this emerging area. With the help of site plans, photographs, and more, it presents design guidelines and case studies for outdoor spaces in a range of medical settings, including: * Acute care general hospitals. * Psychiatric hospitals. * Children's hospitals. * Nursing homes. * Alzheimer's facilities. * Hospices.

Learn the importance of blending as an Alternative Healer. Create an intriguing garden entrance and introduce flower colors, herbs, and legalized Cannabis on the healing garden pathway. Join the Slow Movement to savor every moment. Discover the elements of a Witch and Druid Garden and how ancient theory still applies today. Send long-distance Angel healing to a sick friend, pet, and natural disasters. Are you a Sarah Moses leader? Can you lead in a Crisis? Compelling photos and earthy entries make this a fast read with a cup of brew.

A comprehensive and lushly photographed guide to growing and using healing plants, including recipes, from the founder of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine This is the ultimate reference for anyone looking to bring the beauty and therapeutic properties of plants into their garden, kitchen, and home apothecary. Both informative and accessible, it covers how to plan your garden (including container gardening for small spaces); essential information on seed propagation, soil quality, and holistic gardening practices; 30 detailed profiles of must-know plants (including growing information, medicinal properties, and how to use them); foundational principles of herbalism; step-by-step photographic tutorials for preparing botanical medicine and healing foods; and 70 recipes for teas, tinctures, oils, salves, syrups, and more. Packed with sumptuous photography, this book will appeal to home gardeners who want to branch out to culinary and medicinal herbs, home cooks and those interested in natural wellness, and novice and skillful herbalists alike.