Garden Ideas and Designs would like to thank the Markham Economist & Sun newspaper for their permission to use this article and photograph which ran in the Saturday September 4, 2010 edition.
Markham garden provides emotional escape for seniors
By: Simone Joseph
Bill Hedderwick may need a wheelchair to get around, but that doesn't stop him from admiring the beauty of Union Villa Home For Senior Citizens' courtyard garden.
The 82-year-old and his wife, Agnes, aren't fond of spending time outdoors, yet he does enjoy peering down at the garden from the home's third floor where he lives. He often enjoys this view as he waits for an elevator.
"I think it is beautiful ... It is so well thought out," Mr. Hedderwick said.
Tuesday marked the opening of Union Villa's sensory garden, meant to be accessible to all residents, despite any limitations they may have. Residents with dementia have access to this central courtyard garden.
During an official opening, garden designer Tara Gordon Tullock of Garden Ideas and Designs, explained the thinking behind each aspect of this healing sensory garden.
"Every plant has a purpose," said Mrs. Tullock, who grew up in Unionville and remembers learning to swim in Toogood Pond.
She wanted residents on all three levels of the home to be able to enjoy the garden so she planted hibiscus plants which produce large flowers and attract butterflies.
Mrs. Tullock planted Miss Kim lilacs, thought to be one of the most beautiful and fragrant of all lilac bushes. She planted them close to the home's window so when the wind blows, the fragrance is carried indoors and brings back residents' memories of younger years, which is especially important for anyone not able to go outside.
If your vision is not what it used to be, you may enjoy the wind chimes in the garden which might remind a resident of warm summer nights at the cottage. She also planted lavender, knowing that when a resident brushes past, a scent would be released. The garden also includes a vegetable section with rhubarb, strawberries, tomatoes and beans at the back of the garden to encourage residents to get some exercise and venture to the back of the area.
She has been told that residents and family members are already enjoying taking strolls to reach the vegetables. She chose the silver mound nana plant with feathery silver blue leaves in part because "there are many nanas living here", she joked, but also because people could feel the soft and velvety leaves. She also placed outdoor lights on the trees. "There is something exciting and magical when there are little lights glowing outside," she said.
It is a common mistake to plant flowers too close together which would result in the garden being overrun and having to rip out plants, which is why there are empty spaces in the garden, Mrs. Tullock said.
The official opening recognized donations from The Women's Committee of Markham, the Richmond Hill&Markham Chinese Business Association and the IBM Employees Fund. By way of thanks, a Japanese maple tree was planted in the garden to acknowledge their support at the official opening.
Mr. Hedderwick, who moved to the home 5-1/2 years ago following a spinal cord injury, enjoyed the description of the garden given by Mrs. Tullock.
"It is even more impressive after she explained what it is all about," said Mr. Hedderwick, who has a master's of social work and worked for 20 years in social work administration.
He is chairperson of the home's residents council.
His wife, Agnes, says the couple has traditionally not been fans of gardens but admits this one is different.
"A garden - it is something you look at and say 'it is lovely' and forget it. This impresses you," said Mrs. Hedderwick, who earned her bachelor's degree in philosophy at age 75.
Jacob Abas is more than willing to admit his shortcomings when it comes to being able to describe the garden.
"It looks very nice. That is all a man can say. I don't know the names of the flowers for example," said Mr. Abas, chairperson of the home's family council.
Luckily, Mrs. Tullock supplies laminated descriptions of the garden's contents for people to browse.
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