Education
Horticultural Therapy for Health & Well-being—
Therapeutic Horticulture
 Programs Brought to You
Bring the Garden to you! Request a Missouri Botanical Garden staff member and/or MBG trained volunteer to come to your center and present a 40–60 minute presentation with a kit of display and sensory stimulating props.
Reservation Procedures
Call Carol at (314) 577-9506 at least two months before you would like to have the program presented.
- As soon as a staff member and/or MBG trained volunteer has been scheduled to
present your program, a confirmation form will be mailed to you.
- Please mail the payment when the confirmation form is received. Volunteers can
not collect payment at the time of the program.
- If payment is not received 2 weeks prior to the program, the program will
not be presented.
- Cancellations are non-refundable.
Please make sure that at least 2 staff members from your center are present
during the program to assist participants.
Download a printable brocure. (1.37MB pdf)
Note to Senior Living Activity Directors
The goal of the Missouri Botanical Garden Therapeutic Horticulture Programs is to provide the best quality and most meaningful programs to individuals of all abilities in the community. Some positive changes have been made to serve you and your participants better.
By keeping the number of participants smaller and the program length appropriate for your participants, we can offer a more meaningful and beneficial program for all individuals by catering to their specific needs. We have also created a Facilities Key to act as a guide to aid in your selection of programming for the specific abilities of your group. For assistance in choosing the best program for your group call Carol at (314) 577-9506.
Facilities Key
SCN = Skilled Care Nursing / Ideal number of participants: 10–15
AL = Assisted Living / Ideal number of participants: 10–15
IL = Independent Living / Ideal number of participants: 10–25 (hands-on 10–15)
Presentations
Fee: $20
Participants: 10–25 depending upon the ability level of the participants
Missouri Native Wildflowers
Discover the many benefits of planting Missouri natives. Explore three habitats: prairie, woodland, and glade. These wildflowers attract a variety of songbirds, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Learn about these plants and how they were used by Native Americans.
SCN, AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
Romance of Roses
Sit back and relax as you enjoy some of the most beautiful roses in the world. Learn about the appreciation of these plants throughout history as well as the different types and hybrids of these captivating plants.
SCN, AL – SENSORY KIT
Mr. Shaw and His Garden
See how Henry Shaw’s dream grew into a world famous institution—the Missouri Botanical Garden.
SCN, AL, IL
Plants of the Bible
Biblical references help us understand the plants of the eastern Mediterranean over thousands of years. Learn about biblical plants and their uses through the centuries.
SCN, AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
Butterfly Gardening
Butterflies have intrigued people for centuries. During this beautiful presentation we will learn about the life cycle of the butterfly as well how to attract and keep them in our gardens! Learn about their needs and the different plants that will bring these beauties to your yard!
SCN, AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
Tropical Rain Forests
Experience the wide variety of plants and animals as you journey through fascinating tropical forests. Learn about the many foods and products that come from the rainforest.
SCN, AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
Mysteries of Orchids
The orchid family is one of the most diverse and fascinating in the plant kingdom. Get up close and personal with these exotic beauties. Learn about the history and legends of some of the world’s most beautiful flowers.
SCN, AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
North American Birds and their Nests
There is a wide variety of different nests and nesting habits of North American birds. Types of nests are based on location, types of predators, and materials available. From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, enjoy a beautiful and fascinating slide show on a large variety of intriguing birds and the homes they build.
AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
Birds at Your Feeder
Do you enjoy watching the birds that visit your feeder? Learn about the wide variety of Missouri birds and their habits.
SCN, AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
The Japanese Garden
Enjoy the splendor of Missouri Botanical Garden’s Japanese Garden. The philosophy and design of this garden are beautifully illustrated and interpreted.
AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
A Walk in the Chinese Garden
Explore the myth and meaning of the elements of stone, water, plants, and structures found in our Chinese scholar’s garden.
SCN, AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
American Gardens
Take a fascinating tour through four of the finest east coast American gardens: Longwood, Winterthur, Swiss Pines, and Colonial Williamsburg.
IL – SENSORY KIT
The History of Tea
White, black, green, and Oolong are among the many types of teas. Learn about the fascinating history, botany, and many uses of tea throughout the world.
SCN, AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
From Field to Fabric: Cotton
What do dollars, jeans, and cow chow have in common? They’re all made with cotton. Learn about this wonderful plant from field to finished products.
AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
A Room with a Bloom
 Take part in a monthly flower arranging program! Experience the uplifting joy that flowers bring into your life! This program will provide participants with a hands-on experience that is both therapeutic and educational.
How it works:
From January to December a facility can sign up for the “A Room with a Bloom” program for only one month or a whole year. Each month we will bring in fresh flowers and herbs (depending on the season) for the participants to create their very own arrangement. The theme of the bouquet will change each month.
Activity Directors can choose from a $3 project: an arrangement with decorative sleeve; or a $6 project: an arrangement with decorative basket.
Therapeutic Benefits:
- Fresh flowers provide joy and stress reduction
- Use of hands…working fine motor skills
- Social interaction…increase communication opportunities
- Memory recall
- Increase self-esteem
- Conversation piece when family visits
- Creative outlet using fresh flowers
For further inquiries on this program, contact Don Frisch at (314) 577-9473, ext. 6526.
Fee: $3 or $6 per participant
Participants: Minimum 7, maximum 15
ADDITIONAL Hands-on PrOGRAMS
These hands-on programs have been developed for participants with
a variety of ability levels. Each 45–60 minute program is taught by a
Missouri Botanical Garden staff member or trained volunteer who introduces
the group to the topic, followed by a hands-on activity for all
participants. For reservations call (314) 577-9506.
Please make sure that at least 2 staff members from your center are
present during the program to assist participants with projects.
Fee: $50
Limit: 10–15 participants per program
Rain Forest Adventures
Experience the wide variety of plants and animals as you journey through fascinating tropical forests. Learn about the challenges these forests are facing in modern times. Learn about the unique adaptations these plants have obtained for their survival. Participants will start a
cutting of a tropical plant for their own tropical pleasure!
SCN, AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
Delight of a Chinese Garden
The Garden’s Margaret Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden honors the sister city relationship between St. Louis and Nanjing, established in 1979 as the first such relationship between the United States and China. Participants will enjoy a slide tour of our fabulous Chinese Garden and a hands-on activity including potting individual jade plants with a Chinese stone decoration.
SCN, AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
The History of Tea
White, Black, Green and Oolong are among the many types of teas. Learn
about the fascinating history, botany, and many uses of tea throughout the
world. Create your own herbal tea in tea bags for your own enjoyment.
SCN, AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
Container Gardening
This program can be designed to fit your needs! Hanging baskets and container vegetables or herbs are just a few possibilities. Our MBG volunteers share tips and techniques for container plant care. Fee includes a talk, demonstrations, and one planted container for your center OR a small hands-on planting activity for each participant (depending on availability). Bring your sick plants for personal advice!
SCN, AL, IL
Color of Nature
Much of the color in nature comes from flowers. Learn about the effects of color and how flowering plants use color. Participants make a decorative corsage or boutonniere from silk flowers to be kept or given as a gift. Fresh flowers are available upon request.
SCN, AL, IL
From Field to Fabric: Cotton
Learn about this wonderful plant from field to finished products. We will make a pretty brooch from cotton flannel fabric. Bring along a few old buttons to add to your brooch if you have them.
AL, IL – SENSORY KIT
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