Therapeutic Horticulture Phenology for the Garden...And You!

by Jeanne Carbone

As spring unfolds, there is much to notice in the natural world. Paying attention to the changes which occur on almost a daily basis brings our focus to plants, animals, bird, insects, each component of nature. We are different too; longer days of sunshine energize us, the prospect of hands in the dirt is upon us and we look forward to the growing season.

One way to increase our awareness of the cycles of change in nature is the practice of phenology. Phenology has been defined as nature’s calendar, the study of the seasonal changes in plants and animals. It can be practiced in different ways; for instance, choose a particular plant in your space. Observe the changes which occur over time, from the presence of buds, the peeling of bark layers or the appearance of new growth. Make note of the changes in a journal, with sketches, writing, even rubbings. Another method is the use of a phenology wheel. Mark the changes in a plant or in a space by noting the colors with colored pencils. As your entries evolve over the seasons, the colors of the wheel will reflect the unfolding.

Therapeutic Horticulture is the practice of deepening our connection to nature to improve well-being.

The use of a phenology wheel is one way to deepen that connection. Learn other ways by participating in Adult Education classes at Missouri Botanical Garden offered by Therapeutic Horticulture staff. Nature Mandalas, Creating a Sensory Garden, Journey to Wellbeing are a few examples. For additional offerings, explore the class catalog sections on Nature Study, Well-being and Gardening.

Join the Therapeutic Horticulture team the week of March 27th to celebrate Well-being Awareness Week. Special activities will take place Wednesday and Friday mornings in the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center from 10- noon. Learn more about how to engage with nature to improve well-being and information regarding classes led by the Therapeutic Horticulture team. In addition, Sensory Awareness Walks will be led at various times throughout the week. Stop by the Visitor Engagement Station for more information.

Practical Phenology Applications

Not only is the study of phenology a fun and relaxing way to better understand nature, but it can also have even more practical applications for the gardener. Many nursery pros, for example, dispense advice to homeowners to apply crabgrass preventer to lawns when forsythias (above) are in full bloom. Events happen in the garden, not according to a calendar, but according to the influences of day length and temperature and moisture fluctuations. Weeds—like crabgrass—will start to grow with soil temperatures and moisture are conducive to doing so. Other plants are also affected by those influences. So the forsythia may bloom in March one year, and not until April another year. If control methods are applied at the same time every year, you might miss the time of greatest efficacy. Crabgrass preventer is just that—it prevents crabgrass from emerging. Once the weed is up, it’s a wasted and costly effort to apply preventer. The same is true of insects and insect control methods. To everything there’s is a season... The book, Coincide, The Orton System of Pest Management, by Donald A. Orton, is an excellent source for learning about the phenological relationships in the gardening world around us.

Jeanne Carbone is the Supervisor of Therapeutic Horticulture at the Missouri Botanical Garden. She has a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis on Outdoor Education, and holds a certificate in Horticulture Therapy from Chicago Botanic Garden. She has been involved in this work for 10 years.