What is Therapeutic Horticulture?
The mission of the therapeutic horticulture program at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is to support individuals of all abilities in achieving their goals and improving their overall wellness through horticultural activities and learning.
Therapeutic horticulture uses hands-on horticultural and other nature-based activities to achieve diverse therapeutic, vocational, and social-emotional goals. This is a guided, intentional practice that is more about the process than the results. Anyone can participate in therapeutic horticulture, whether it’s your first time planting a seed or you’re an avid gardener.
Therapeutic horticulture is an evidence-based practice. Countless studies show how spending time in nature and interacting with plants improves a person’s social-emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. Humans have an innate connection to nature, and everyday life can often lack time spent outside amongst plants, digging in soil, touching water, and observing animals. Therapeutic horticulture helps bridge that gap and bring nature back into participants’ lives.
Who is this for?
Anyone can benefit from therapeutic horticulture. Some examples of who these programs are designed for include:
- People with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities
- Elders
- Children
- People experiencing grief and life changes
- Those working on life and vocational skills
- Corporate groups looking to de-stress and build team connection
We would love to hear about your groups’ needs and share how therapeutic horticulture may help achieve your goals or strengthen your team.
Therapeutic
Focused on physical, mental, and/or psychological needs and goals.
Example: Someone with limited mobility may plant and water houseplants to work on building arm strength.
Vocational / Life Skills
Focused on work and/or life-related skills and outcomes.
Example: High school students with intellectual disabilities work as a team to design and plant a vegetable garden.
Social-Emotional / Wellness
Focused on overall well-being, rather than specific conditions or life circumstances.
Example: A group of adults wants time away from responsibilities to relax and connect with one another while arranging an annual container.
About Our Space
Therapeutic horticulture sessions are held in the outdoor classroom near Heritage Homestead, which includes the Walker Ewing Glass Log House, heritage apple orchard, and chicken coop. Designed for accessibility and located in a partially-shaded area, a flat surfaced pathway leads to raised garden beds and picnic tables with a calming woodland view.
Therapeutic horticulture sessions may include garden and habitat learning experiences throughout the Garden in the Garden of the Five Senses, Hillside Pollinator Garden, Margaret Lawrence Simon Dogwood Meadow and the Woodlands. Indoor accessibility for therapeutic horticulture sessions is available in the Peirce Education Rooms, located inside the Welcome Center.
What is Included?
Each 2-hour therapeutic horticulture session includes guided horticultural/nature-based activities designed for participant goals and abilities, discussion, and time in the Garden. Materials are included in the program fee, unless additional materials are required.
Pricing
$300 for a 2-hour group session, maximum 12 participants. Grants may be available for qualifying groups.
How Do I Get Started?
Fill out the request form below, the Garden will review the details and contact you to discuss options and schedule a session.
Need Us to Come to You?
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden offers outreach therapeutic horticulture programs in the Greater Pittsburgh area. If you would like to set up an outreach program, please contact Gina or Heather via email and include details about your space and group.
Meet the Staff
Gina Walter
Gina is the Garden’s Education Manager and holds a degree in landscape architecture and certificate in horticultural therapy. Gina is a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist with a passion for connecting people to nature and highlighting the benefits of working with plants. When she’s not working, Gina loves to read and birdwatch in her yard.
Heather Mugnolo-Forsythe
Heather is the Therapeutic Horticulture Program Instructor at the Garden. She has spent a good portion of her life in nature, and lived in state parks for eight years. Being a guide to re-connect people with nature is a highlight of her life. She has spent over 20 years as an educator and independent contractor for schools, personal care homes, and non-profit organizations creating therapeutic programs for mindfulness and yoga, environmental education, therapeutic horticulture and art. Heather is currently in the Bachelors of Applied Horticulture program with special interest studies in horticultural therapy and a minor in psychology at Kent State University. Heather enjoys ecology, growing medicinal herbs and flowers, hiking and spending time outdoors with her family, friends and two loving pups.
Contact Us
If you have questions about therapeutic horticulture at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden or would like to begin scheduling a program, please contact the Education team at their email listed below, or call (412) 444-4464 ext. 235.
Gina Walter
gwalter@pittsburghbotanicgarden.org
Heather Mugnolo-Forsythe
hmugnolo-forsythe@pittsburghbotanicgarden.org
