Ferriday Garden Club continues therapy project

By Special to The Democrat | The Natchez Democrat

Published Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Ferriday — The Ferriday Garden Club has adopted a project called Garden Therapy for seniors. The first year the project consisted of introducing container gardening to seniors at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Ferriday. This was done in 2006, and three residents participated.

The garden club provided caladium bulbs and the residents planted them in two large concrete planters on the large porch they all share. Thirty bulbs were planted this year. Several Ferriday Garden Club members assisted the residents in planting the bulbs. Prior to the planting, new dirt was added to the containers by the garden club members.

The residents kept the bulbs watered and the beautiful blooms were enjoyed by all at the nursing home.

The second year, 2007, several garden club members met with some of the residents on the lawn at Heritage Manor and caladium bulbs were planted on the outside borders of the flower beds. Several residents that participated the past year became involved, and new residents joined in the planting. This was supervised by the Ferriday Garden Club members attending. That year, 100 bulbs were planted.

In 2008, bulbs were planted again in the two concrete planters on the porch. Thirty bulbs were planted. Four residents participated in this planting. All of the soil and bulbs were provided by the Ferriday Garden Club for this project.

Members of the garden club participating have been Marjorie Vogt, Khristie Nugent, Joy Irvin, Sherrill Sasser, Lena Bateman and Mary Beth Whitehead.