There is a relatively new therapeutic intervention known as horticulture therapy that may offer some help to the recently bereaved. Horticulture therapy is built on a solid ground of scientific research. There is an extensive amount of literature over the past twenty-five years that supports the idea that people are restored by frequent contact with plants (Driedger, 1996).

The basic premise behind horticulture therapy is that working with and around plants brings about positive psychological and physical changes that improve the quality of life for the individual (Relf, 1992). Horticulture therapy is one of the few healing processes in which the mind, body and spirit are restored simultaneously. This combination of benefits can offer help to those experiencing grief due to the loss of a loved one. There is growing evidence of the effectiveness of horticulture therapy to treat everything from depression to breast cancer recovery. More research is needed to determine if horticulture therapy can help diminish the extent and duration of the grieving process.

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this study is to determine if horticulture therapy can help alleviate the effects of grief on the recently bereaved due to the death of a loved one. Horticulture therapy is defined as a process of utilizing plants and horticultural activities to improve the social, educational, psychological and physical adjustments of persons thus improving their body, mind and spirits (Bassen, & Baltazar, 1997). It is hypothesized that incorporating horticulture therapy into the lives of those who have recently lost a loved one, will lessen the extent and duration of the grieving process. This process is likely to include the following: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance (Ross, 1970). For the purpose of this paper grief is defined as an intense emotional and psychological response to a loss (Cooper, 2000). The therapy will include planting and maintaining a small flower garden for a period of four months. The participants will spend no less than one hour per day in hands on interaction with the garden.

Review of Literature

Researchers have been studying the relationships between people and plants for some time. As early as 1768, doctors have thought that digging in the soil held curative effects for the mentally ill. The benefits of horticultural activities were emphasized in hospital in Spain as early as 1806 (Relf, 2001). As the centuries pass the relationship between plants and people is broadening. Working with plants and gardens holds restorative value to the body, mind and soul (Driedger, 1996). Feelings of depression, fear, anxiety, and a lack of purpose are common among those who are grieving (Cooper, 2000). Horticulture therapy has been used to help people dealing with these symptoms, as evidenced by the following research studies.

One study by Shoemaker & Relf, to determine the role of flowers in bereavement, supports the idea that flowers can help us through times of grief. She interviewed grief therapists, funeral directors, and the recently bereaved. Flowers are helpful to those who are grieving in at least two ways. They brighten up a somber environment and serve as a source of comfort. (1993). Plants and related horticultural activities have been proven to arouse psychological and social responses of residents in geriatric facilities (Bassen & Baltazar, 1997). Geriatric patients, not unlike the recently bereaved, often feel as though they have no purpose in life (Sheldon, 1998). Participating in horticulture therapy allows the participant to satisfy that need. A sense of purpose is vital to help patients maintain their physical and cognitive level of functioning and prevent the onset of depression (Sheldon, 1998). Residents of one geriatric facility agreed that the ability to nurture living plants made them feel needed and gave them something to look forward to (Bassen & Baltazar, 1997).

Horticulture therapy has been used with patients suffering from chronic mental illness. Those patients often exhibit anti-social behavior and high levels of anger (Smith, 1998). Anger is one of the stages that must be dealt with in the grieving process (Ross, 1970). One study by Smith found that mentally ill patients were less guarded and disclosed information in counseling settings after participating in horticulture therapy. The nurses noted that patients’ social interactions increased. There was less conflict among the patients and they were more cooperative (1998). Additionally, horticulture therapy helped relieve aggression in a socially acceptable manner by providing aggression outlets. Correctional facilities are using horticulture therapy as a rehabilitative tool for adults and children. It is believed that the anger and maladaptive behavior, which often leads to criminal activity, can be lessoned by the use of horticulture therapy (Relf & Dorn, 1995). The physical nature of gardening allows for redirection of these aggressive drives (Relf, 2000).

Bereaved individuals often suffer from increased levels of anxiety and stress in various forms (Sheldon, 1998). Ulrich (as cited by Relf, 2000) found that college students, who were stressed from an exam, had increased positive feelings and reduction of fear, as a result of viewing plants. A related study by Ulrich and Simon (as cited by Relf, 1991) documented physiological changes related to recovery from stress, and lower blood pressure. Recovery from stress was reported within four to six minutes after viewing nature scenes, suggesting that even brief visual contact with plants is valuable in relieving daily stress (Relf, 1991).

Depression is one of the more serious stages of grief, which if left untreated can lead to more serious health problems (Sheldon, 1998). Horticulture therapy offers an effective way to help alleviate depression. After participating in horticulture therapy, cancer patients were found to have lower levels of depression. The weaker patients used activities, such as walks through a garden, but all had a positive effect. Those who participated recovered faster and were able to develop new interests (Relf, 1991). Residents of a geriatric facility who participated in horticulture therapy showed increased levels of physical and cognitive functioning which in turn lowered their levels of depression (Bassen & Balazar, 1997).

Plants have to do with life cycles and most people make an easy transition between the life cycle of plants and their own life cycle (Relf, 1991). Individuals with disabilities, those coping with mental illness, senior citizens, those in prison, troubled children, addicts, people recovering from strokes and those in hospices have all benefited from the use of horticulture therapy (Gomes, 1999). Further research will allow the recently bereaved to be included in the ever increasing list of those who have found recovery in horticulture therapy.

Hypothesis Statement

It is hypothesized that participants experiencing grief due to the death of a loved one, who receive horticulture therapy will have lower levels of grief than those participants experiencing grief who do not receive horticulture therapy.