Astro said:I am employed by the care home to garden all aspects of it with set weekly hours, how I use the hours is left to me. It isn't of benefit to me to create additional work,
I don't want you to think that I was getting at you personally. I think from your reply, you know what I meant.
As long as the care home and the residence are happy, that is great.
I had a relative in an Elsabeth Flynn carehome. The gardens were designed by Bunny Guinness. The carehome handed over the maintenance of the garden to the able residence, with a budget. They spent the budget on sentimental knick-knacks, not quite gnomes but similar. Everyone was happy. I bet Bunny Guinness hated it.
A good point about salt use though.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Ah thanks for all the kind words and encouragement .
The care home I work at is one of the UKs largest independent care providers. It like many other care settings do not have such a large budget for the gardens,my particular care home is large and has lots of ground around it . Still prior to my employment last year they hadn't had an official gardener in decades from what I was told ,so it's good they have recognised the benefits of improving the gardening as it was very neglected looking.
The low budget has definitely provided a challenge which at times I've relished and others times has caused stress. Fortunately I've had help from gardening friends that have helped me out with with plants, materials , equipment and general support. Many of them have had family in care and some felt the gardens at their homes were quite depressing.
It seems there are some care home cliches @bédé such as tacky ornaments and twee planting in many small pots in various colours , I don't totally know why it happens as I assume it's not to everyone's taste. I think at times there is an emphasis on fun items and novelty, buying lots of cheap things instead of fewer higher quality. Personally I've try to aim at a classy/natural and inviting look. There were a couple of ornaments on the patio ( one being a gnome) that I left as they weren't garish looking, just in natural colours, Bunny might have even approved
@Astro I had a relative in care 120 miles away. They did have a' friends of group' to help with the garden. I was too far away but I did fill the car with plants from my garden on a couple of occasions. More plants less weeds was my thought.
It was a modern building and I thought that grasses that moved with the breeze and brightly coloured tall perennials would work together. I tried to think about how the residents would feel in the space, you must have an element of sensory.
My relative had loved pastal shades all her life especially lemon, in old age it was the bright vibrant colours that she commented on probably due to her failing sight. A loss of smell can also be a problem for the elderly so something with a strong scent near a seating area is good.
Some people with dementia can remember clearly what happened years ago but can struggle with the present. So whilst some of the garish garden ornaments don't fit into a classy scheme they can mean something to a person with dementia. Perhaps the gnome can peep out from behind one of the plants? Good Luck Suze
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I would not want to impose an elitist taste in garden design onto a more generalist audience.
I wouldn't impose Tracy Emin, when the residents would prefer Beryl Cook.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Yes there are sensory elements within the gardens and residents are consulted with regards to plants of interest and elements they would like. I talk with activities coordinators as they are better informed about the resident requirements more generally.
We do try to accommodate to residents wants and likes as individuals, though like people in general they have differing tastes, to some extent it's about finding a happy medium as what someone may like another doesn't and vice versa.
Many of the residents do have elitist tastes or at least did owing to their backgrounds, it's an affluent area and the fees are quite decent. Me personally I'm not from that type of background and in some respects I felt I had to move in a more classy direction.
I personally don't buy garish ornaments for the home but if a resident desired one then I would include it.As it stands there doesn't seem to be much of a desire for that type of stuff, if I worked at another care home perhaps there would be. I think in many ways there are items in the home that perhaps fill that role.
Obviously to a decent extent I do bring my style to the gardening, it would be the same of any gardener I'd image.With that being said your comments have definitely given food for thought and some further insight, I will certainly try to learn more about the needs of residents as there's always room for improvement
@Astro I really like your approach, having an open mind to things helps you succeed. You may not like all the suggestions given but it is always good to be aware of them.
Often when people donate plants they will offer things that can be thuggish or just a small piece of something special. Lots of different plants dotted about just doesn't work.
Having three, fives or sevens of something does give class and drama. I am sure over time you will be able to split and repeat.
The care home I spoke of earlier had a Garden Party every year with a prize for the best garden, it was in a national group, so other care homes entered. It was an opportunity to invite relatives to visit. I was told that they had to try everything to get some families to visit at all . With a beautiful out side space to sit in and relax I am sure your residents will have more visitors.Suze
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
As long as the care home and the residence are happy, that is great.
I had a relative in an Elsabeth Flynn carehome. The gardens were designed by Bunny Guinness. The carehome handed over the maintenance of the garden to the able residence, with a budget. They spent the budget on sentimental knick-knacks, not quite gnomes but similar. Everyone was happy. I bet Bunny Guinness hated it.
A good point about salt use though.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
The care home I work at is one of the UKs largest independent care providers.
It like many other care settings do not have such a large budget for the gardens,my particular care home is large and has lots of ground around it . Still prior to my employment last year they hadn't had an official gardener in decades from what I was told ,so it's good they have recognised the benefits of improving the gardening as it was very neglected looking.
The low budget has definitely provided a challenge which at times I've relished and others times has caused stress. Fortunately I've had help from gardening friends that have helped me out with with plants, materials , equipment and general support. Many of them have had family in care and some felt the gardens at their homes were quite depressing.
It seems there are some care home cliches @bédé such as tacky ornaments and twee planting in many small pots in various colours
Personally I've try to aim at a classy/natural and inviting look. There were a couple of ornaments on the patio ( one being a gnome) that I left as they weren't garish looking, just in natural colours, Bunny might have even approved
It was a modern building and I thought that grasses that moved with the breeze and brightly coloured tall perennials would work together. I tried to think about how the residents would feel in the space, you must have an element of sensory.
My relative had loved pastal shades all her life especially lemon, in old age it was the bright vibrant colours that she commented on probably due to her failing sight. A loss of smell can also be a problem for the elderly so something with a strong scent near a seating area is good.
Some people with dementia can remember clearly what happened years ago but can struggle with the present. So whilst some of the garish garden ornaments don't fit into a classy scheme they can mean something to a person with dementia. Perhaps the gnome can peep out from behind one of the plants? Good Luck Suze
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
We do try to accommodate to residents wants and likes as individuals, though like people in general they have differing tastes, to some extent it's about finding a happy medium as what someone may like another doesn't and vice versa.
Many of the residents do have elitist tastes or at least did owing to their backgrounds, it's an affluent area and the fees are quite decent. Me personally I'm not from that type of background and in some respects I felt I had to move in a more classy direction.
I personally don't buy garish ornaments for the home but if a resident desired one then I would include it.As it stands there doesn't seem to be much of a desire for that type of stuff, if I worked at another care home perhaps there would be. I think in many ways there are items in the home that perhaps fill that role.
Obviously to a decent extent I do bring my style to the gardening, it would be the same of any gardener I'd image.With that being said your comments have definitely given food for thought and some further insight, I will certainly try to learn more about the needs of residents as there's always room for improvement
Often when people donate plants they will offer things that can be thuggish or just a small piece of something special. Lots of different plants dotted about just doesn't work.
Having three, fives or sevens of something does give class and drama. I am sure over time you will be able to split and repeat.
The care home I spoke of earlier had a Garden Party every year with a prize for the best garden, it was in a national group, so other care homes entered. It was an opportunity to invite relatives to visit. I was told that they had to try everything to get some families to visit at all . With a beautiful out side space to sit in and relax I am sure your residents will have more visitors.Suze