The Kings Mountain Life Enrichment Center, 222 Kings Mountain Blvd., has a new building that has the center's participants blooming with excitement. A new greenhouse at the facility was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 11, 2016.
"When we started a horticultural therapy program three years ago, the idea of building a greenhouse was just a little seed," says Horticultural Therapist Beth Bruno. "In the three years since, the seed was watered and tended, and grew into the realization of a dream. Many people in the community donated funds, time and energy to help make it happen."
The greenhouse is now filled with beautiful plants, a bubbling water garden, a large work table and chairs for participants to gather around.
"Horticultural therapy is a time-proven practice," Bruno says. "Gardens and gardening activities have been used for therapeutic effect since ancient times. A greenhouse is a plant-rich environment which encourages and facilitates interaction with the healing elements of nature."
Bruno leads activities in the greenhouse that include planting seeds for the spring garden, watering plants, potting cuttings and reminiscing about gardens past.
The greenhouse has proven to be a magical place, Bruno says. "It brings a sense of calm and at the same time creates a sense of wonder and curiosity for the participants. Everyone who enters the greenhouse feels the effect."
Bruno says that many participants are life-long gardeners and that the greenhouse offers them an opportunity to garden in the winter months when gardening outdoors is impossible. "It offers a warm, inviting space to interact with plants when the temperatures outside are unwelcoming," she says. "The greenhouse has proven to be a real benefit to the participants and has taken the horticultural therapy program to a whole new level."

By April Hoyle Shauf

Special to Shelby Shopper