Windy City Harvest Programs
Therapeutic Horticulture
Therapeutic Horticulture
Therapeutic Horticulture Program
Enrich your well-being with a unique program that uses plant-based activities to foster relaxation, reduce stress, and improve physical and mental health.
As a leader in therapeutic horticulture, our workshops are led by expert coordinators, and are thoughtfully tailored to meet participants’ needs. We offer inclusive, powerful experiences for individuals, as well as teamwork and connection building opportunities for groups of all abilities. Workshops focus on collaborating, cultivating, and caring for green spaces, and are hosted at our headquarters Farm on Ogden, the Buehler Enabling Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden, and partner facilities across the Chicago area. Learn more about our Therapeutic Horticulture Program and sign up below.
The Memory Café is a welcoming, free, and safe place for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers, now open at the Chicago Botanic Garden select Wednesdays and Thursdays through October. Find more information about our Memory Café and book your session below.
Learn more about Horticultural Therapy
Chicago-based Therapeutic Horticulture Workshops
Flexible workshops for schools, nonprofits, and corporate groups, are offered year-round as single sessions or ongoing programs, held at your location or on site.
Chicago-based Therapeutic Horticulture Workshops
Flexible workshops for schools, nonprofits, and corporate groups, are offered year-round as single sessions or ongoing programs, held at your location or on site.
Example Activities:
- Build your own terrarium
- Herb container gardens
- Succulent dishes
- Floral arrangements
- Pressed flower art
- Seed and bean mosaics
Who can participate?
Therapeutic horticulture sessions can be adapted for all ages and abilities. Our Therapeutic Horticulture Coordinators are experienced in co-treating with physical, occupational, and recreational therapists.
Location:
We provide both on-and-off-site workshops. Year-round, one of our trained Therapeutic Horticulture Coordinators will come to your site with all the supplies needed to conduct a session. We also host workshops at our headquarters at the Farm on Ogden in our classroom space.
To book a therapeutic horticulture session click below.
Buehler Enabling Garden Therapeutic Horticulture
Designed to be universally accessible as well as therapeutic, the Enabling Garden features raised bed plantings bursting with color, texture, and scents.
Buehler Enabling Garden Therapeutic Horticulture
Designed to be universally accessible as well as therapeutic, the Enabling Garden features raised bed plantings bursting with color, texture, and scents.
Amenities:
- Large, accessible bathrooms
- Wheelchair-accessible tables
- Proximity to parking
Example Activities:
- Sensory dish garden
- Propagation
- Flower arranging
Who can participate?
The Enabling Garden was designed with accessibility in mind and can curate experiences for a wide variety of individuals, including those experiencing:
- Physical and mobility impairments
- Dementia or Alzheimer's
- Visual, hearing, speaking, and/or sensory impairments
- Intellectual and developmental disabilities Cognitive impairments
Participants are welcomed and encouraged to bring their aid or caregiver, if applicable.
Location:
Sessions are offered at the Buehler Enabling Garden at the Garden’s main campus in Glencoe.
Booking Information
To book individual session click below.
Self-Guided Tours for Groups with Special Needs
There is limited availability for groups of up to 50 to take a free self-guided tour of the Garden. To book online please click below.
For any questions not addressed here, please contact our registrar.
Memory Café
at the Garden
A welcoming space for people living with dementia and their care partners to connect, socialize, and enjoy meaningful experiences together.
Memory Café
Memory Cafés provide people living with dementia and their care partners with a welcoming space to connect, socialize, and enjoy meaningful experiences together. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers a peaceful, nature-rich setting that supports relaxation, enjoyment, and well-being for both participants and caregivers.
Who the Program Is For?
Individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia and their caregivers, care partners, or family members accompanying participants
Program Goals:
- Create a supportive and inclusive environment
- Reduce social isolation and foster connection
- Encourage friendship and community
- Promote relaxation and stress relief through nature
- Offer accessible, plant-based activities that support creativity and enjoyment
Benefits:
- Time in a calm, restorative garden setting
- Gentle social engagement and creative expression
- Shared, meaningful experiences for participants and caregivers
Example Activities:
Activities are designed to be sensory-rich, accessible, and adaptable to varying abilities.
- Tropical terrariums
- Fresh flower arranging
- Herb dish gardens
- Music listening and board games
Program Structure:
Frequency: Twice per month
Dates:
March 18, 19, 25
April 1, 2, 8, 16, 23, 29, 30
May 6, 13, 14, 20, 21, 28
June 4, 11, 18, 25
July 9, 16, 23, 30
August 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27
September 3, 10, 17, 24
October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden:
- Linneas Room (cooler months)
- Buehler Enabling Garden (warmer months)
Setting: Small group and welcoming
