Largest 'healing garden?'

Throughout history gardens have been used to aid in the healing process. Research has been done showing the therapeutic benefits of nature. Roger Ulrich, a professor and director of the Center for Health Systems and Design at Texas A and M University, found that viewing natural scenes or elements fosters stress recovery by evoking positive feelings, reducing negative emotions, effectively holding attention/interest, and blocking or reducing stressful thoughts.

What is the goal of a 'healing garden?'

The goal of a healing garden is to make people feel safe, less stressed, more comfortable and even invigorated.

In regards to the 'memorial fountains' at ground zero, the fountains are said to create, 'a nice peaceful background, like the sound of the ocean.' The fountains together make up the nation's largest man-made waterfalls, and are at the heart of the memorial, called Reflecting Abscence. Paula Berry, a 9/11 family member, believes that,'the presence of water is incredibly important at the memorial as a means to reflect and the water plays that role.'

The surrounding plaza is also important to the function of the Ground Zero memorial; it has been planted with hundreds of trees and there are spaces for people to gather. The memorial orchestrates and unifies a vast space that has been radically altered, and is heavily loaded with meaning, into a permanent site that encourages collective and individual remembrance.

Plant selection for a 'healing garden?

 
Plants that have evocative meanings for the groups being served is important. For the case of the Ground Zero Memorial, the choice of using swamp oak trees was not chosen on a whim. The druids have been associated with trees, particularly oak trees. One of the tasks of druids is to keep their people in balance with Nature. Druids often use trees to mark sacred places. And oak groves have frequently situated atop key lines or nexus of power flows. In regards to symbolism, the oak tree represents wisdom, strength, and endurance.

I believe that the goal of a healing garden is best achieved by the pro-active volunteer organizations of people meeting the needs that have arisen due to the impact of surviving family members of 9/11.   And that is something that is immeasurable and continues to make the greatest impact on this 'healing garden'

Peace out,

Laura