Horticultural therapy is the biggest non-surprise form of therapy for those seeking calm, joy and satisfaction. Human beings have naturally been drawn to growing plants and trees that provide food and smell good for satisfaction and sustenance. This applies world-wide with different cultures producing different foods and smells. Tropical scents and air purification are additional benefits.

 “Absolutely, gardening is great for mental therapy,” said certified Master Gardener Faun Turley. “I gardened outside after my husband died. He was the love of my life and I would go outside and tend my plants and cry until it was too dark to continue.”

Gardening to help beautify and improve landscaping is absolutely helpful to mental health. Turley found additional benefits in serving to help others. It allowed her to meet other like-minded people and learn more
from them.

South Jordan is home to Laguna Nursery and Progressive Plants. They are both nurseries and greenhouses with a large variety of plants and trees. While they don’t offer specific mental therapy classes, they teach basic maintenance to produce healthy and
thriving plants.

“Gardening is very therapeutic,” said Ryan Schmidt, owner of Schmidt Greenhouse. “Customers come in, especially in winter to enjoy the plants and flowers. They find the bright colors and smell very comforting.”

Gardening can involve children, parents, grandparents in family gardens. Community gardens can also result in friendships and a strengthened neighborhood feel of family. There’s proof that horticultural therapy supports individual health and wellness.

Getting out in nature is therapy. Seeing the energy of growing plants, hearing birds chirp, feeling a breeze, smelling herbs and flowers, and eating what you grow are tremendous things to do. Enjoying all the senses helps people feel good, positive and
strengthened. λ