For nearly six decades, Ann Arbor Farm & Garden members have been proving the accuracy of Mr. Burbank’s statement, one bouquet at a time. Our Horticultural Therapy (HT) program, now called Flower Therapy, uses flowers donated by local businesses to create small floral arrangements for hospital patients and local residential social service facilities.

Until 2020, the Flower Therapy program was based at Mott Children’s Hospital, with two sessions scheduled monthly September through May. Recognized as one of the hospital’s longest-serving volunteer groups, our flower therapists brought joy and a healing touch of nature to young patients and their families.

The Covid pandemic shuttered the Mott program, but our stalwart flower therapists were determined to continue this meaningful service. Led by Chair Karen Mikus and Co-Chair Nancy Asin, the group established a monthly bouquet-making activity in a borrowed space. The small, bright arrangements were then delivered to Alpha House, Ronald McDonald House, and Safe House. In 2022-23, more than 1,000 bouquets were distributed.

In September 2023, Flower Therapy returned to Mott Children’s Hospital so that young patients and their extended family members can once again make cheerful bouquets to take to their rooms or give to their favorite nurses or doctors. Parents also come to make arrangements while their children are in surgery.

Also in September 2023, for the first time, Flower Therapy began on the 9th floor of Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital with patients whose pregnancies are at high risk for complications. There is a bright, windowed space where the women can gather to chat while making bouquets for their rooms, their nurses, and often their janitor. Flower Therapy not only brings the joy of flowers, it decreases the isolation and boredom of being restricted to a hospital room.

Volunteers are always welcome to join the Flower Therapy team. Contact Karen Mikus, Chair, at saren82049@gmail.com.

Horticultural Therapy

Although the Woman’s National Farm & Garden Association didn’t invent horticultural therapy, the organization played an important role in its history and development. With the work of Miss Elizabeth Hall in the 1920s, through the pioneering work in the 1950s of Alice Wessels Burlingame, a WNFGA Michigan Division member considered the founder of the modern HT profession, Farm & Garden at all levels has actively supported and encouraged the field of horticultural therapy. In fact, the first committee of the newly formed Ann Arbor Branch in 1947 was a horticultural therapy group; it was that committee that started our ‘Flower Ladies’ tradition of service. Dig deeper into our HT history.