Garden Partners

Jane Luthy and the Garden Partners program believe in the ability of plants to improve the quality of life. The Garden Partners program brings blooming plants and vegetable starts to five care centers in the Metro area. These photos were taken at the St. Andrews and the Lawrence Care Center in Portland in the fall of 2007. Through the Garden Partners program, the residents in the care centers, many of whom have gardened for most of their lives, get the opportunity to continue to grow and care for plants from pansies to cauliflower. 

 

Al’s Garden Center supports the Garden Partners program and their efforts to improve the quality of life of those in the care centers by providing plants to be used in the program. Vegetable starts are a favorite among the residents to grow. Eating fresh lettuce and tomatoes just picked out of the garden, (or window box) is a real treat. The cooks in the kitchen at one of the facilities help out by stirring up delicious cheese sauce to drizzle over the plump heads of cauliflower grown by the residents. Garden Partners sees to it that anyone living in the five care centers who want to garden, are given the opportunity to grow.

 

Some of the blooming annuals and other plants are taken into the rooms of residents who are unable to get out of bed. The plants are one of few connections with nature that these residents have. Al’s Garden Center supports the Garden Partners program and their belief that in caring for and nurturing a plant, life is improved.