Gaylord greenhouse in bloom again
Christina Lafex helps patient Dennis Bovat plant herbs.
Posted: 28 May 2010
WALLINGFORD — Ed Nelson is a 67-year-old Oxford resident who has been a patient at Gaylord Hospital since April 30. Nelson, who is awaiting gall bladder surgery, suffered a stroke in 2000. So he’s a patient with a medically complex situation, and that’s what Gaylord specializes in treating.
Before the stroke forced him to retire, Nelson was a cattle farmer who also maintained a vegetable garden at home. While he’s been at Gaylord, he’s been able to keep in touch with his gardening skills, thanks to a generous donation that has revitalized the hospital’s greenhouse.
Patients at Gaylord can now plant bulbs, grow herbs and bring cut flowers to their rooms or back home, thanks to a former patient who runs a Cromwell gardening business.
Nelson said he’s grateful “just to have something to do.”
“I once had a greenhouse,” he said. “We always bought potted plants.”
Built in the 1970s, the hospital greenhouse was long dormant until about a year ago. The ongoing donation allowed the hospital to spruce up watering trays, maintain equipment, and keep a steady supply of plantings.
“We use it as a therapeutic space for patients,” said Christina Lafex, a therapeutic recreation therapist.
“I have no formal training whatsoever with flowers,” Lafex said. “I’ve certainly been learning quite a bit from patients.”
Patients are now learning from her, as well. On a recent morning, she was helping Dennis Bovat plant herbs. Bovat, who is awaiting esophageal surgery at Waterbury Hospital, was visiting the greenhouse for the first time.
Lafex estimated the cost of keeping the greenhouse operating at about a couple thousand dollars per month, supported by the ongoing donation. Five patients use it once a week, but it’s also used by other patients from other therapeutic programs, including speech, occupational and physical therapy.
Gardening offers a tactile experience, plus the greenhouse has an entirely different atmosphere. It’s hot and humid, and smells nice.
“That’s what patients say when they come in here: ‘Oh, it smells so good,’ ” Lafex said.
“It’s good, too, because you can forget you’re in the hospital,” Lafex said. “They can unwind a little bit.”
As spring heads toward summer, the greenhouse sports a variety of herbs, including basil, parsley, dill, thyme, sage and rosemary. At Easter, it’s lilies and tulips. In winter, poinsettias.
“It’s very colorful in here,” Lafex said.
“It’s definitely therapeutic, especially with herbs,” she said. “When you’re working with them, you have the smell on your hands.”
Submitted by Jeff Kurz on Fri, 05/28/2010 - 18:35
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