My neighbor, who always worked outside in his yard, is now confined to a dementia ward in the local nursing home. He still responds to plants, trees, leaves etc. I did take him some bare branches in water off my corkscrew willow tree which have now leafed out and he likes that. What else can I do? I'm thinking of taking small pots full of potting soil and helping him start seeds, (coleus comes to mind as they could be transplanted and used as houseplants.) Do you have any other ideas? Obviously we are limited on space (there is a large windowsill in his room). Could we grow any vegetables? Thank you for any suggestions.
Ask at the nursing home first.. Some won't allow cut flowers
We got my great grandmother a chia herb garden It was very simple, and only required the staff to water it daily. She could enjoy the fragrance and the staff could enjoy fresh herbs.
Get the Jiffy peat pack system. It's about 5.99. You can start the vegetable garden indoors and transplant to bigger pots. The window sill will be fine for a lot of vegetables.
Miniature landscapes are all the rage. You might consider getting one of the large pot witih a pot set ups. Plant it to tiny sedums, cacti, include some interesting rocks, or even a small figurines if he had a favorite pet. I have seen some done up like fairy gardens, desert scenes, African Savannah, or even farms. Your imagination could be your guide. You could buy some tiny boxwood and bonsai them like trees. Even include tiny fences and gravel pathways. I would suggest drought tolerant plants. You wouldn't have to worry about forgeting to water when you are not around and a lot of cacti are slow gowers. If you want to do a vegetable garden you might try herbs and early spring root crops like radishes or varieties of leaf lettuce that grow during cool, short daylength times.
1. Bring him some new seed catalogs to page through. He would probably enjoy the pictures. 2. Get him a calendar somehow related to flowers, gardens, or gardening. 3. When you visit, bring along a piece of paper and draw out for him what your own garden will look like this summer. Ask for his advice. 4. Create a talking game: use photos of plants, trees, and flowers; use cuttings; stimulate as many of his senses as possible. 5. Take him on a little tour of the nursing home and talk about certain houseplants or cut flowers you pass by. 6. Are there trees and bushes outside his window? Can he easily see these? Talk to him about these plants and let him talk to you. 7. Does the nursing home staff already have some sort of program related to what you are doing with him individually? Perhaps the staff doesn't know he likes to garden. Tell someone at the nursing home about his past as an avid gardener. Can the nursing home staff then ask for his advice on gardening issues? 8. Bring along some picture books related to gardening. 9. Buy him a small framed picture of a garden scene. 10. Is there anyway the two of you can make a gardening scrapbook together, maybe even including a few photos of your friend in his younger days as a gardener? 11. Does the nursing home ever have fundraisers? The two of you could create a gardener's basket of garden seeds, etc. 12. If possible, bring seasonal plants in his room. 13. See if you can find a plum or cherry tree, cut a few short branches and see if you can force these in water in his room. 14. Surprise him with some colorful blooming houseplant. 15. Perhaps the most important thing you can do for him is to bring yourself -- a fellow gardener he can identify with. I hope this helps you and your friend.
