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National Horticultural Therapy Week 2011!

Charles A. Lewis 1924-2003
Horticulturist, Visionary, Author, Friend

Purpose of the award: The Charles A. Lewis Excellence in Research Award honors the memory of Charles A. Lewis whose zeal and commitment throughout his career to better understand the relationship of people and plants will continue to positively influence research and hence the well-being of people.

About Charles A. Lewis
Charles A. Lewis was a pioneer in the field of people-plant interaction and innovative horticultural programs. He held a deep-seated belief in the positive effects of nature on people, and throughout his distinguished career he sought to share that belief with others.

Plants possess life-enhancing qualities that encourage people to respond to them. In a judgmental world, plants are non-threatening and non-discriminating. They are living entities that respond directly to the care that is given them, not to the intellectual or physical capacities of the gardener. In short, they provide a benevolent setting in which a person can take the first steps toward confidence.

Charles A. Lewis
Green Nature, Human Nature: The Meaning of Plants in Our Lives
1996 University of Illinois Press

Over his more than 30 years in the horticultural field, Charles was a plant breeder, a garden center operator, a director of Sterling Forest Gardens in Tuxedo, New York, an administrator of collections and research fellow at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, and a consultant in people-plant interactions.

Charles published many articles on people-plant interactions in professional journals as well as in popular magazines and newspapers. His 1996 book, Green Nature, Human Nature: The Meaning of Plants in Our Lives, is still required reading for every horticultural therapist.

About the Award
The Charles A. Lewis Excellence in Research Award was established by the AHTA in 2005, to honor Charles’ lifetime of contributions to the field of people-plant interactions.

In particular, the award seeks to honor outstanding research in the field, in the belief that the publication of evidence-based research demonstrating the effectiveness of horticultural therapy is critical. Such research can increase public awareness of HT benefits and help to make HT programs accessible to more people, as well as enhance the credibility of HT professionals everywhere.

The Charles A. Lewis Excellence in Research Award will be given annually to an individual (or a research group) who has published outstanding horticultural therapy research in a professional horticultural or medical journal. The recipient will be selected by a committee appointed by the AHTA Board of Directors.

Nomination Information
Nominations forms must be submitted to AHTA by October 15, 2010 to be considered for the 2011 Charles A. Lewis Excellence in Research Award. Download a nomination form here.

Past Award Winners
2006 Award Winners – Inaugural Year
Christina M. Gigliotti and Shannon E. Jarrott. 2005. Effects of Horticulture Therapy on Engagement and Affect. Canadian Journal of Aging 24(4): 367-377.
ABSTRACT
Implementing generationally appropriate activities for persons with dementia is a challenging task. Horticulture therapy (HT) addresses this challenge through the use of plants to facilitate holistic outcomes. Utilizing the model of environmental press, the current study sought to analyze adult day service (ADS) participants’ responses to HT as compared to traditional activities. HT activities were conducted once a week for a half an hour at four different ADS programs over the course of 9 weeks. Observational data were collected during HT and traditional ADS activities using a modified dementia care mapping (DCM) technique. Observers coded predominant behavioral and affectual responses for each participant. HT activities facilitated higher levels of productive engagement and positive affect and lower levels of non-engagement than did traditional ADS activities. Therefore, HT offers dementia-care staff a viable activity alternative that is well received by clients and inclusive of all interested persons, despite cognitive limitations.

Tina Waliczek, J.M. Zajicek, and R.D. Lineberger. 2005. The Influence of Gardening Activities on Consumer Perceptions of Life Satisfaction. HortScience 40(5): 1360-1365.
ABSTRACT
A survey based on the Life Satisfaction Inventory A (LSIA) was used to investigate gardeners’ and non gardeners’ perceptions of life satisfaction. The LSIA was developed in 1961 by Neugarten and measures five components of quality of life including zest for life, resolution and fortitude, congruence between desired and achieved goals, high physical, psychological and social self-concept, and a happy optimistic mood tone. The survey was posted for four months on one of the largest online resources for Texas Master Gardeners within the Aggie Horticulture network, the Texas Master Gardener Web page (http:aggie- horticulture.tamu.edu/mastergd/mg.html). During the 4 months, 402 responses were gathered. Additionally, identical ‘paper/pencil’ format surveys were distributed to garden, church, social and community groups with about 400 responses received. In each group of participants, respondents differentiated themselves as gardeners or non gardeners by responding positively or negatively to the survey question, Do you garden? Results indicated statistically significant differences in comparisons of the overall life satisfaction scores with gardeners receiving higher mean scores indicating more positive results on the LSIA. When response to individual statements were analyzed, results indicated statistically significant differences on 20% of the statements. Differences were detected on statements relating to energy levels, optimism, zest for life, and physical self-concept with gardeners answering more positively on all statements when compared to non gardeners’ responses. Additionally, gardeners rated their overall health and their physical activity levels higher than did non gardeners.

2006 Honorable Mentions
Virginia I. Lohr and Caroline H. Pearson-Mims. 2005. Children’s Active and Passive Interactions with Plants Influence Their Attitudes and Actions toward Trees and Gardening as Adults. HortTechnology 15(3): 472-476.
ABSTRACT
A nationwide phone survey of attitudes toward urban trees, participation in civic or educational activities, and memories of childhood experiences with gardening and nature was conducted with 2004 adults in large urban areas. We analyzed the influence of 11 childhood experiences and five adult demographic characteristics on three items: “trees in cities help people feel calmer,” “Do trees have a particular personal, symbolic, or spiritual meaning to you?”, and “During the past year, have you participated in a class or program about gardening?” Growing up next to natural elements such as flower beds, visiting parks, taking environmental classes, and gardening during childhood were associated with stronger adult attitudes and more actions. Growing up next to urban elements, such as a large building, had a small, but opposite, influence. Demographics played a role in adult attitudes and actions. While both passive and active interactions with plants during childhood were associated with positive adult values about trees, the strongest influence came from active gardening, such as picking flowers or planting trees. These results indicate that horticultural programs for children raised in urban surroundings with few or no plants can be effective in fostering an appreciation for gardening in adults.

Matthew Wichrowski, Jonathan Whiteson, Francois Haas, Ana Mola, and Mariano J. Rey. 2005. Effects of Horticultural Therapy on Mood and Heart Rate in Patients Participating in an Inpatient Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation 25:270-274.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess the effects of horticultural therapy (HT) on mood state and heart rate (HR) in patients participating in an inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program.
METHODS: Cardiac rehabilitation inpatients (n = 107) participated in the study. The HT group consisted of 59 subjects (34 males, 25 females). The control group, which participated in patient education classes (PECs), consisted of 48 subjects (31 males, 17 females). Both HT sessions and PEC are components of the inpatient rehabilitation program. Each group was evaluated before and after a class in their respective modality. Evaluation consisted of the completion of a Profile of Mood States (POMS) inventory, and a HR obtained by pulse oximetry.
RESULTS: Changes in the POMS total mood disturbance (TMD) score and HR between preintervention and postintervention were compared between groups. There was no presession difference in either TMD score (16 T 3.6 and 19.0 T 3.2, PEC and HT, respectively) or HR (73.5 T 2.5 and 79 T 1.8, PEC and HT, respectively). Immediately following the intervention, the HT TMD was significantly reduced (post-TMD = 1.6 T 3.2, P G .001), while PEC TMD was not significantly changed (TMD = 17.0 T 28.5). After intervention, HR fell in HT by 4 T 9.6 bpm (P G .001) but was
unchanged in PEC.
CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that HT improves mood state, suggesting that it may be a useful tool in reducing stress. Therefore, to the extent that stress contributes to coronary heart disease, these findings support the role of HT as an effective component of cardiac rehabilitation.