Rembering a good friend

I want to offer this time to remember a good friend and colleague, Jean Kavanaugh. She was a pioneer in the development of Therapeutic Gardens and instrumental in the collaboration between the American Society of Landscape Architects and the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Jean served as a member of the Executive Board of AHTA for many years. She was actively involved in ASLA and AHTA in many ways. Jean’s endeavors helped raise awareness of the importance of the development and use of Therapeutic Gardens. She tirelessly worked to promote the importance of Therapeutic gardens and to also evaluate their effectiveness through research. She will be missed by many people and in many ways. The following is taken from her obituary.

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Jean Stephans Kavanagh of Lubbock, TX, a native of Forest Hills, age 61, died peacefully after a brief battle with cancer on Friday, January 25, 2008. Jean was the daughter of the late Rita P.(Nehrig) and John G. Stephans. Beloved mother of Douglas Camann. Jean studied Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA from 1964 - 1969. She received her Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture in 1976 and her Masters of Landscape Architecture in 1982 from Cornell University, Ithaca NY. Jean was an Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at Texas Tech University, Lubbock TX. She joined the department in 1990 after teaching Landscape Architecture at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst ('82-'89). She was active in community and professional outreach and has served as an officer of the Texas Chapter of the ASLA, the Horticultural Therapy Association, Sigma Lambda Alpha National Landscape Architecture Honor Society, and the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA). Jean pioneered in the study of the design of therapeutic landscapes in the United States. In 1995, she was recognized as one of the top women in Landscape Architecture. During the Centennial ASLA Meeting in Boston, MA, in 1999, she was inducted into the College of Fellows of the ASLA in recognition of her efforts in this area of research. The family requests Memorial Donations be made to Texas Tech Foundation (Jean Stephans Kavanagh Endowment), P.O. Box 42123, Lubbock TX 79409 or, Maryknoll Missionaries, in care of Robert V. Nehrig, P.O. Box 304, Maryknoll, NY 10545.

Gardens That Heal

"The back porch garden at Medford Leas community center wasn’t much to look at before Jack Carman came along."

"Residents and employees at the continuing-care facility rarely ventured into the barren courtyard. The only thing to look at was some air-conditioning and maintenance equipment."

"Last year, the outdoor space got a makeover, thanks to Carman, a Medford landscape architect who specializes in designing therapeutic gardens for the elderly."

To continue, read the full-text of a May 2002 article appearing in The Courier Post reprinted with permission at my website.

Retirement Living @ Cathedral Village: Part 2

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Featuring Nancy Carman,

Design for Generations, LLC
4:50

Re-Creating ‘The Backyard’ in Senior Communities

Outdoor areas designed to meet the needs of residents, especially those with special needs, can help these older adults feel at home.

If asked to choose an outdoor environment in which you feel comfortable spending time, would you, like many people, say your backyard? Think back to when you were growing up. Did you play with friends in your backyard? Were there picnics and barbeques with friends and neighbors?

Did you have a garden where you grew vegetables with your grandfather or raised roses with your grandmother? These are great memories that you might try to re-create whenever possible in the places you live.

Adults moving into senior communities should also enjoy examples of gardens and landscapes they have experienced in their lifetimes. People can relate to these environments on many levels (e.g., physical, emotional, or spiritual) and through these settings recall pleasant memories. This helps confirm a new residence as home-like.

Moreover, the health benefits produced from interacting with nature, either passively or actively, are extensive.

To continue, read the full-text of my Jan./Feb. 2006 article appearing in The Journal on Active Aging reprinted with permission at my website.

Healing Gardens: 10 Questions & Answers

In a recent issue of SJ magazine, Nicole Pensiero asked me 10 questions about Healing Gardens:

1. How do you explain landscape architecture?

2. What drew you to landscape architecture?

3. How did you become interested in therapeutic gardens?

4. What specifically makes a garden therapeutic or healing?

To read the rest of Nicole’s questions and review my answers, access the reprint of the article at my website.

January 2008 Newsletter

GARDEN WALKS

We have been told, by our parents, doctors and countless articles—that exercise is good for us. It helps to break down the hormones and other chemicals that build up during periods of intense stress. The Government and others tell us that we should exercise 30 minutes a day and this can seem like a chore to some. Well, why not make it fun? Walking is one of the simple and easiest forms of exercise. And we all like to socialize. Then, why not take walks with a friend? Schedule a time to meet, in the morning before the day gets started, at lunch or at the end of the day when things are winding down. And—plan to walk in the park, through the garden or any other nicely landscaped area that provides a positive distraction. After all, it has been proven that nature can take our mind off of our ills. This is a recipe for exercise for the new year. Take once a day, everyday!

“Autumn arrives in the early morning, but spring at the close of a winter day.”
-- Elizabeth Bowen

PLANT TREES

Did you know that planting trees near a building can help to reduce summer air conditioning costs by as much as 50% or more? Trees not only keep people cooler, they can cool a building too. Now is the time to plant.

IMPROVED MOOD

OK. We know that looking at flowers can change a person’s attitude and improve one’s mood. People who made point of looking at flowers in the morning have indicated that they felt better and had more energy throughout the day. So, why not take a few simple steps to make this happen for your self and possibly others? Try this:

• Place a hanging basket outside your window or a flowering plant on your desk
  
• Arrange for flowers to be sent to yourself once a month
  
• Practice random acts of sending flowers to others
  
• Plant more flowers in your garden
  
• Pick wildflowers
  
• Place a container of flowers outside the front door
  

VIOLETS

African violets are an easy plant to take care of. I remember my grandmother tending to hers every Saturday morning—feeding and watering them. They did surprisingly well during the cold months. They need bright, indirect light and places away from drafts and heating vents. The soil should be well drained and kept slightly moist. In return work this minimal care, Violets will provide a colorful display of flowers throughout the year.

WINTER SHRUBS

The winter landscape can appear somewhat monotone in colors. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can add plants that provide color during the winter months. Winterberry Holly has berries that stand out in the distance. Red Twig and Yellow Twig Dogwood have vibrant colored branches. Coral Bark Maples have multicolored bark. The exfoliating bark of the River Birch stands out in the garden. And Witch Hazel blooms in January. These are a few ideas of a few of the many trees and shrubs that can be added to the garden for an interesting winter look.

A GOOD BOOK

This is the time of year to settle in with a good book, of the gardening kind. Thinking about what to add is always fun. Keep in mind layers. Does it attract nature into the garden, offer seasonal interest throughout the year, is useful in cooking or crafts, provide fragrance and is non-invasive? Few plants can answer all of these questions. However, take a close look and see if the plant you order has several functions.

BLOGS

We are entering into another realm of the web by starting a Blog. You can find it here at http://gardening-for-wellness.blogspot.com -- take a look and see what you think. It will offer a way to keep in touch more frequently and provide additional information on gardens.

Green is great in 2008!

ABOUT US

Nancy Carman, MA, CMC—Editor. For further information on how to design, develop and care for Therapeutic Gardens and outdoor environments, call 609-953-5881,
email us at jpcarman1@comcast.net or visit www.designforgenerations.com.

Retirement Living @ Cathedral Village: Part 1

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Featuring Jack Carman,

Design for Generations, LLC
1:27

Welcome to Design for Generations

My name is Jack Carman, FASLA. Welcome to our new Design for Generations blog.

As owner, founder, and president of Design for Generations, LLC, I have more than 20 years of experience as a landscape architect. I’m a nationally recognized expert in the design of therapeutic gardens, particularly Alzheimer’s gardens and outdoor environments for senior living communities.

Services: Design for Generations, LLC is a landscape architecture firm specializing in the design and development of therapeutic gardens and landscapes. Located in southern New Jersey, Design for Generations, LLC works with clients throughout the United States. I approach landscape design with the belief that outdoor environments should communicate to our physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.

Philosophy: The goal of each and every garden is to meet the physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs of individuals enjoying the garden. The existing site conditions are analyzed and design conditions are created in order to promote a positive quality of life. The design of the outdoor environment should be in harmony with and take advantage of nature’s beauty and restorative powers.

Licensure includes:
Certified Landscape Architect - New Jersey # AS 00658
Professional Planner - New Jersey # LI 05273
Registered Landscape Architect - Delaware # SI- Orla 231
Registered Landscape Architect - Pennsylvania # LA - 001403-R
Registered Landscape Architect - New York #001714-1
Registered Landscape Architect - Oregon #LA 574
Certified Landscape Architect - Virginia # AS 001233

For additional information about Design for Generations, please connect to our website or contact us today.