Memory care gardens to be included in Garden Walk

GENEVA – The therapy gardens at Arden Courts of Geneva will be among the eight gardens featured in this year's Geneva Garden Walk, titled "A Garden Variety, Geneva Gardens in Bloom." The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 16 and 17.

When Arden Courts officials began talking to the garden club about having their gardens included in the walk, spokeswoman Carrie Heck said at first, club members did not understand why anyone would want to tour a dementia community.

“But when they came to see the gardens and understood the significance of the therapeutic benefit to the physical, social, psychological and spiritual health of our residents, they were all in and excited about our unique programs,” Heck said.

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life, according to the Alzheimer's Association website, www.alz.org. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 percent to 80 percent of dementia cases.

Arden Courts’ gardens are the Herb Garden for the cooking club; Grandma’s Garden, which has peonies, lilacs and hydrangeas; and the Quilter’s Garden, which has purple phlox and shasta daisies for cutting flowers, Heck said.

A new addition is the Butterfly Garden, planted this spring by Girl Scout Gracie Lucchesi as part of her badge program. Gracie will be at the walk all day June 16 and 17 to host her garden and talk about why she chose to do her project at Arden Courts, Heck said.

Geneva Garden Club President Debbie Notaro said several club members have had family affected by Alzheimer’s, so they especially wanted to support what a therapy garden does for residents.

“The smell, touch, texture and sight envelopes your senses and helps people with memory loss,” Notaro said. “And people can sit in a wheelchair and work in the garden or enjoy the garden. … It helps so much for the families … to come to this beautiful garden and to touch and smell and see all the colors.”

The garden club event at Arden Courts also will feature the facility's fundraiser on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association, called "The Purple Painted Garden Chair," Heck said.

Seven shades of purple represent the seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. The chairs will be featured in a silent auction from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from June 12 to 17, Heck said. Telephone bids will be accepted by calling Heck at 630-262-3900.

Notaro said her company, My Secret Garden, the garden club and one member whose parent recently died from Alzheimer’s each contributed one chair to the fundraiser.

Arden Courts also will participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer's on Sept. 23 at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles, Heck sad.

Advance tickets for the garden walk are $18. Day-of tickets will be available at the gardens on the walk for $20 a ticket.

Learn more about the event at www.genevagardenclub.com.