“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”             Luther Burbank

From September through May, twice each month on Wednesday mornings, a cheery voice comes over the sixth floor PA system at U-M Mott Children’s Hospital: "Good morning boys and girls, the Flower Ladies are here today in the activity room!"

Recognized as the longest-serving volunteer group at Mott, the ‘Flower Ladies’ of Ann Arbor Farm & Garden’s Horticultural Therapy committee have been bringing joy and a healing touch of nature to young Mott patients for decades. When the children arrive in the activity room, they are met with friendly faces and a beautiful assortment of flowers donated by local florists. Delightful scents and profuse color lift their spirits, and for a little while, they can put troubles aside to become flower arrangement artists. After they are finished, the children take their creations to their rooms to enjoy.

As a Flower Lady, you become a meaningful part of this experience as you guide the children through the creative process. Our volunteers consider it a privilege to be involved, and find great satisfaction in working with the children. All AAF&G members are eligible to volunteer, and no special training is needed – just an enjoyment of flowers and a desire to brighten a child’s day.

Farm & Garden’s History in Horticultural Therapy
Although the Woman’s National Farm & Garden Association didn’t invent horticultural therapy, we have played an important role in its history and development. With the work of Miss Elizabeth Hall in the 1920s, through the pioneering work in the 1950s of Alice Wessels Burlingame, a Michigan Division member considered the founder of the modern HT profession, Farm & Garden at all levels has actively supported and encouraged the field of horticultural therapy. In fact, the first committee of the newly formed Ann Arbor Branch in 1946 was a horticultural therapy group; it was that committee that started our ‘Flower Ladies’ tradition of service.
Dig deeper into our horticultural therapy history here.