California health centre opens healing garden

A California health facility has started a garden to help its patients recover from illness and injury, it has been reported.

Palomar Pomerado Health in Poway launched the project to help give residents at its 129-bed Villa Pomerado a pastime to take their mind off their treatment, according to the North County Times.

The first seeds – cucumber plants – were sown yesterday (April 20th) by 75-year-old hip patient Joan Chavez, who has been a lifelong gardener.

Facility president Michael Covert told the news provider how his father, who suffered from dementia, seemed to become a different, calmer person when he visited a garden.

"He could sit out there and relax," Mr Covert explained. "He could speak in meaningful ways. He remembered things he had forgotten. He connected in some way with the garden. It was so special."

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Business Times recently reported that garden centres have been enjoying robust sales of seeds in recent weeks.