Horticultural Therapy
What is Horticultural Therapy?
Horticultural Therapy (HT) is an add-on therapy that uses gardening and nature-related activities to facilitate health and well-being. In the medical field, it is used with clients of all ages and by professionals in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, prisons, group residences, and day programs.
Horticultural Therapy at the Gardens
The Gardens’ Horticultural Therapy program is tailored to the strengths and needs of each participating group. Our on-site programming provides hands-on activities including plant propagation, harvesting and cooking fresh produce, garden maintenance, floral arranging, wreath-making, flower pressing, and much more! Visit the northeast quadrant of the Gardens, including the Native Crops area, where you can see our work in progress first-hand.
Horticultural Therapy Program Services
At the Gardens, Horticultural Therapy activities are centered around achieving specific therapeutic goals. These include increasing self-confidence, socialization, creative self-expression, improving communication skills, decreasing stress, or practicing skills related to activities of daily living. In our pre-vocational programs, participants have the opportunity to develop transferable job-related skills and responsibilities including gardening maintenance, tool inventory, and greenhouse management.
Program Models
We offer Horticultural Therapy programs for groups of 5-10 participants and charge a baseline of $15 per person per hour. Depending on the intensity of the program offered, this cost may increase.
Horticultural Therapy is aimed at achieving specific goals within an established program model. If you are interested in signing up, please review the three different program models to determine how we can best serve you and fill out the form linked below.
Therapeutic Model
Seeks physical or psychological outcomes
- Enhance recovery from illness or injury
- Support treatment of mental health issues
Examples of goals: Reduce or alleviate pain, regain muscle strength, improve endurance, increase self-confidence, regain a sense of control, increase ability to self-advocate, develop and practice positive coping mechanisms, and reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels.
Vocational Model
Seeks work-related skills and outcomes
- Blends therapy and training with a connection to real work conditions
- Promotes an effective strategy for supporting a more inclusive workforce
Examples of goals: Increase communication skills, enhance knowledge of horticulture and career opportunities, increase self-confidence, attainment and/or mastery of transferable horticultural skills, and increase endurance.
Wellness Model
Seeks to improve physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or social aspects of well-being
- Facilitates social interaction and community engagement
- Fosters environmental stewardship
- Focuses on the improvement of well-being and overall quality of life
The History of Horticultural Therapy at the Gardens
The Horticultural Therapy program was initiated by a docent, Helen Cowles, in 1983. It was then led by the late Dr. Juliet Niehaus (pictured left) for over 20 years. She built a program serving people with disabilities and other life challenges that received national recognition. She also cared diligently for our flock of chickens, another element of the program!
During these past few decades, the Tucson Botanic Gardens has served a wide range of participants, including senior citizen centers, memory care centers, local high schools, and recovery groups.
In the coming months, our vocational programming will expand to serve individuals and groups seeking employment skill training in the horticultural industry while fostering connections with local businesses to support smooth transitions into the workforce. We will also enhance community engagement by offering tailored wellness programs, increasing access to safe and inclusive outdoor experiences, facilitating intergenerational collaboration, and redesigning our gardens to accommodate diverse accessibility needs. Through ecologically mindful practices – such as composting food waste, water conservation efforts, and incorporating culturally significant plants – we aim to instill environmental stewardship while encouraging deeper connections to nature and diverse culinary traditions.
