Newsletter

People all over the world profess the physical and psychological benefits of gardening and interacting with plants.  Given the magnitude of such a vast body of anecdotal support for the therapeutic benefits of engaging in plant-focused activities, there remains limited scientific evidence for the physiological and psychological bases of said…

That would be a great subject line if this were an email.  Since it is not, I will begin by introducing myself.  I am Jim Stribling, the newest member of the WBG team, in the position of Assistant Director.  I am honored to have been selected to help steward this…

As I pen this message I note that the peak of the camellia bloom season has now passed, but several late blooming cultivars still await your inspection at the Wilmot Botanical Gardens. Also, you can enjoy many varieties of both traditional and Encore azaleas that are blooming throughout the gardens…

A common goal in therapeutic horticulture programs is to help clients find meaning and purpose. Your life purpose consists of the primary motivating aims of your life—the reasons you get up in the morning. Purpose is unique to each person and can guide your decisions and behaviors, provide direction, influence…

Fig. 1 As 2024 draws to a close it is a good time to look back at several happenings that took place in the garden this year. Once again, our fall plant sale was a great success. Both our gross and net income exceeded the results of the 2023 fall…

I suspect that most of the readers of this fall newsletter are as tired of the hot and humid weather as those of us who maintain the Wilmot Botanical Gardens. The excessive rainfall in August and now continuing into September has presented a major challenge to accomplish even the most…

By the time you read this we will have just started our therapeutic horticulture programming for the fall. This semester we will be working with three groups of UF students with stress, anxiety, loneliness, and/or depression, individuals with Parkinson’s and their care partners, young adults with developmental disabilities, patients from…

How can relaxation, self-esteem, and well-being be maintained or enhanced in aging populations to maximize quality of life?  The good news is there is enough empirical evidence to support the test of the hypothesis that engaging in nature-based activities can provide positive psychological and physical benefits to elder populations. The…

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Mrs. Wilmot & Roy James Jr. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Wilmot Botanical Gardens (1954-2024) and it is also the 10th anniversary of the opening of our greenhouse. Figure 1 was taken of Mrs. Wilmot and her son, Roy James, Jr., both of whom are standing beside…