Yesterday I hosted a therapy session for a group of breast cancer sufferers. Volunteers work with them through the local hospital and a friend of mine is Involved. She thought that having a "gardening" session might be good and suggested they could each plant up a small pot to take home and care for. I was more than happy to help as as think gardening is very good for easing the strains of modern life....even if it does bring its own aches and pains, especially with increasing years!
We were blessed with a fine sunny day after much stormy weather and eleven ladies came. A large table was set up on our back terrace area, compost prepared in large bins at either end, crocks for drainage. Assorted sea washed pebbles, pieces of glass and pottery plus small pieces of driftwood were available for those who wished to enhance the planting.
I think it was a great success as many of the ladies obviously had some experience of gardening - ' orto' - vegetable gardening at least and were happy to be involved again on a smaller scale now no longer with the energy to work as before.
They also showed a great interest in my planting especially the large selection of ornamental Salvias that I encouraged them to touch and smell. I think they went away happy, clutching their pots and I hope that caring for them and seeing them grow will give them renewed hope. I also gave each one of them a small pot and six Acidanthera
bulbs so that they could watch the shoots appear and hopefully reward them with beautifully scented flowers later in the summer.
A tiring but pleasurable day.
