That is the basis for therapeutic landscape design and horticultural therapy. Therapeutic gardens are designed for children, for those with temporary or permanent physical disabilities, for patients with Alzheimers disease, for the elderly, for those with terminal illnesses and their families, and for prison inmates. They are large and small, fully accessible or only for viewing, and for day and night use. They are as varied as our culture. Their value lies in the positive associations people have with plants.
Plants have aesthetic, temporal and spiritual qualities.
The annual dormancy and rejuvenation of plants mark time, and provides a sense of connection to the earth and to other living organisms. A garden can restore a sense of order, safety and privacy for those dealing with the chaos induced by illness. The act of gardening produces a peaceful, effortless concentration that increases our capacity to rest. It creates more outward perceptions rather than inward self-consciousness, a valuable balance to the uneasiness of illness. A therapeutic garden creates a complementarity between life and place.