“Snow melts into the earth and a gentle breeze
Loosens the damp gum wrappers, the stale leaves
Left over from autumn, and the dead brown grass.
The sky shakes itself out. And the invisible birds
Winter put away somewhere return, the air relaxes,
People start to circulate again in twos and threes.
The dominant feelings are the blue sky, and the year.
—Memories of other seasons and the billowing wind;
The light gradually altering from difficult to clear
As a page melts and a photograph develops in the backyard.”
So writes John Koethe in his poem “The Late Wisconsin Spring.” We are all glad to see the snow melting, the grass reappearing, the birds returning to our backyard feeders, and the boots and heavy coats being stored away again until next year.
What better thing to do than plant some flowers? This week, we got our hands in the dirt and our minds focused on thoughts of spring.
While it may be too early for our crocuses to appear (this photo was taken in Idaho earlier this week), we just have to be patient.
Research shows that people with dementia who garden show less agitation, decreased feelings of isolation, improved social interactions, increased attention spans, and maintenance of cognitive skills and interests.
Watch this space for more gardening. Allina Health just awarded Among Friends a grant for an herb garden project that we will begin in April!
a social respite program 