'Open Vote' I Secret Garden

Your Own

Secret arden

Dig in and discover nature's healing abilities.

By Christine Holm

T

he Secret Garden is the story of an
orphaned girl, a sick boy and the boy's
emotionally scarred father, who all
heal through the garden that the girl discov-
ers and brings back to life. Such a sweet story,
isn't it? But what if it isn't just a story?
Studies show that gardens have healing
qualities for many of us — and in myriad
ways. Master gardener Linda Wiggen-Kraft of
St. Louis, Mo., is passionate about the healing
qualities of gardens.
"I feel that all gardens are healing gardens
in that the word 'heal' means `to make
whole.' All humans are on a journey through
life to become whole," she says. We can find
that strength, beauty and centering, she
maintains, in gardens.
"I want to not only create beautiful
gardens that are planted and maintained in
healthy, organic ways, but I also want these
gardens to enhance people's lives in deeper
ways," she says. "I knew in my own life,
gardening and gardens grounded me and
brought a deep sense of satisfaction and joy."
Today, she designs all sorts of restoring and
nurturing gardens. Some are simply meant
to be full of flowers to bring people joy. The
physical, hands-on work such gardens require
to maintain them helps maintain health—a
beautiful thing in its own way.
"Others," Wiggen-Kraft says, "are created
with real healing intentions in mind. Some
are designed to help homeowners and their
family find places of healing and solace as

10 I OPEN DOOR Magazine • May 2014

they are challenged by disease."
A number of these gardens are for women
dealing with breast cancer. It's a well-doc-
umented fact that hospitals are aware of:
Gardens help heal.
Wiggen-Kraft describes one she designed:
"It was for a woman who, in her last months
at home, had moved her bed near the win-
dow so she could see the garden when she
could no longer walk in it. She told me that
she never really cared about gardens before
she became sick, but during these last few
years, she needed to see the beauty.
"Once, she told me about a dream in
which she saw white annual vinca and birch
trees. I was amazed and told her that these
plants are among those that Dr. James Duke
includes in his cancer garden because they
have been found to be scientifically promis-
ing in helping cure cancer."
Wiggen-Kraft believes that all plants have
healing qualities and that we intuitively know
what brings us joy and therefore healing, so
we really already know what it is that we'll
benefit from.
"Be sure to include plants that attract
birds, butterflies and insects because they
bring the elements of movement and life into
the garden," she adds.
Dig in! If you have a physical challenge or
your spirit is somehow hurt, creating a heal-
ing garden can help. It'll be your secret, the
kind you share with nature.

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