Presented by FRSR with guidance from Craig Hospital, Accessible Garden caters to disabled and aging gardeners
January 15, 2019 (DENVER) – The Colorado Garden Foundation announced today a first for one of its 11 different themed gardens at the Colorado Garden & Home Show: a garden themed around accessibility.
Presented by local landscaping company FRSR LLC, and with input and direction from the horticultural therapy program at Craig Hospital, the Accessible Garden will feature options, ideas and support for gardening enthusiasts with limitations, proving that age and disability should not keep homeowners from maintaining and enjoying their garden; rather, spending time outdoors and in an activity such as gardening can be a healing and therapeutic experience that everyone can – and should be able to – enjoy.
Elements of the Accessible Garden at this year’s Colorado Garden & Home Show, which takes place at the Colorado Convention Center February 9-17, 2019, include:
- Pathways that feature a wide clearance and smooth surfaces, to accommodate multiple users including persons in a wheelchair;
- Raised planter beds with minimal rim width and U-shaped design, to allow wheelchair access around and underneath, as well as minimize the space between the gardener and the plants;
- A barbeque and outdoor dining area that is accessible and ADA compliant;
- A meditation space, complete with a water feature, that is accessible and offers sensory and ornamental plants with proven healing effects.
“The idea behind this is barrier-free gardening,” said Eric Fuerst, FRSR owner and Accessible Garden designer. “Whether because of a disability, age or injury, we want everyone to know that they can still maintain and enjoy their gardens and outdoor spaces. This garden showcases a few of the ways we can help accommodate limitations and get homeowners back to the joy of gardening and spending more time outside.”
This year, the Colorado Garden Foundation celebrates its 60-year legacy of contributing grant and scholarship funding to various horticultural projects statewide, and one of its past grant recipients, Craig Hospital, has used their funding to support horticultural therapy for its patients, using elements like those on display at this year’s Accessible Garden.
Craig Hospital is a past recipient of a $100,000 grant from Colorado Garden Foundation to build its plaza garden, which used to be the middle of Clarkson Street and was closed off to create a garden space between the hospital’s East and West buildings. Featuring a full perennial garden with annual plantings, a three-tower water feature, shade structure with seating, built-in benches, and electrical outlets, this main garden and its adjoining garden spaces (also funded in part by separate CGF grants) offer patients, staff and families an area for healing and respite; sensory stimulation for patients recovering from brain injury; varying terrain for physical therapy patients working on mobility and range of motion; and meditation space for psychologists and therapists to meet with patients to encourage mental wellness.
“At Craig, we work with patients to help them get back to what’s important to them in life,” said Susie Hall, Horticultural Therapy Program Coordinator at Craig Hospital. “With grant funding support from Colorado Garden Foundation, we’re able to demonstrate simplified gardening techniques that work for anyone and everyone, and the impact on our patients is remarkable. We look forward to showcasing some of these techniques at the Show and giving that access back to those for whom gardening has become a challenge.”
As in past years, the Colorado Garden and Home Show will showcase 11 different inspiring landscaped gardens. More than 600 companies from 25 states and Canada will introduce new technologies in landscaping, gardening, energy-efficient heating and cooling products, window treatments, siding, flooring, lighting, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, patio furniture, gutters, sound systems, storage systems, greenhouses, decks, spas and more.
The Show will also feature a hot products zone with must-have new gardening and home improvement products, more than 50 free educational seminars and how-to demonstrations throughout the nine days of the event, a kids zone complete with a playground, games and activities, and the annual flower sale on Feb. 13, with proceeds supporting the Arvada Rotary.
One hundred percent of every ticket sold is awarded by the Colorado Garden Foundation in the form of grants and student scholarships, including one four-year, full-ride scholarship to attend a Colorado institution. Colorado Garden Foundation’s total contribution to date tallies up to more than $9 million.
Show Details:
- Feb. 9-17, 2019 at the Colorado Convention Center
- Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Sundays: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Mon– Thurs.: Noon – 7:00 p.m.
- Friday: Noon – 8:00 p.m.
Admission:
- General admission $12; senior ticket (at the door) $10; children 12 and under are free
- 2 for 1 admission offered Monday, Feb. 11 – Thursday, February 14
About Colorado Garden Foundation
Colorado Garden Foundation, a nonprofit corporation, 501(c)(3), provides funds for horticultural-related grants and scholarships for the benefit of Colorado. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $9 million for horticultural projects and scholarships throughout the state. Colorado Garden Foundation presents the Colorado Fall Home Show focusing on home renovation, remodeling and sustainable living and the Colorado Garden & Home Show, the Rocky Mountain region’s largest, oldest and most prestigious consumer garden and home improvement show west of the Mississippi in February. For more information, visit ColoradoGardenFoundation.org, facebook.com/coloradogardenfoundation or Twitter and Instagram @cogardenfdn. The hashtag for the 60th Colorado Garden & Home Show is #Garden2019.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kate Peters:
919-606-5612
kate@katepeterspr.com