The Idaho Botanical Garden’s Horticulture Therapy Program offers evidence-based, nature-centered therapy that supports mental, physical, and emotional well-being for people of all ages and abilities. Guided by trained professionals and grounded in therapeutic horticulture practices, each program helps participants build resilience, improve quality of life, and experience meaningful connections to plants, place, and community.
Supported by Cambia Health Foundation, the program expands access to inclusive, restorative experiences that complement healthcare, caregiving, and wellness services—offered in the uniquely healing setting of the Garden.
What Is Horticulture Therapy?
Horticulture therapy uses gardening and plant-based activities to achieve specific therapeutic goals. At the Garden, these experiences are thoughtfully structured, research-informed, and adaptable to individual needs. Participants engage in hands-on activities that encourage mindfulness, movement, sensory engagement, and social connection—all within a welcoming, non-clinical environment.
Each session includes a series of intentional activities, facilitated by trained staff, and may be part of a longer program that meets weekly over a set period of time. Participants move through these programs together as a cohort, fostering trust, consistency, and shared growth.
Why Horticulture Therapy Matters
- Supports Mental Wellness: Gardening and plant-based practices are proven to lower stress, reduce anxiety, and support recovery.
- Encourages Physical Health: Activities improve strength, mobility, coordination, and fine motor skills.
- Fosters Social Connection: Group sessions provide opportunities for community, teamwork, and shared growth.
- Builds Resilience and Purpose: Participants develop confidence, coping skills, and a deeper sense of meaning through nature.
Who the Program Serves
- Adults experiencing stress, trauma, recovery, or life transitions
- Youth and young adults seeking structure, confidence-building, and emotional support
- Seniors looking for connection, purpose, and gentle physical engagement
- Caregivers and families supporting loved ones with cognitive, physical, or emotional challenges
- Healthcare providers and community organizations seeking complementary, non-clinical therapeutic options
Every session is adaptable, person-centered, and rooted in dignity, choice, and respect.