Today stands a pollinator garden to promote the ecosystem and diversity of the insect world that is crucial to our agricultural crops, which in turn sustains us as humans. From spring to winter, the plants adapt to its everchanging environment, if you listen, it becomes the voice of your past to the voice of your future. “Bring me your peace and my wounds, they will heal.”

The garden now represents the transitions from a family home to the Iris Respite House bed and breakfast for caregivers to take an overnight break away. This garden is used for the Children’s Summer Nature Camp, Grow Together with Take a Break, where they learn about birds, butterflies and bees, pollination and the importance of caring for someone through the Take Two, Give One to a Family Caregiver™ concept. This garden is dedicated to Charles and Lisa Story’s grandchildren and was made possible by the entire Story Family, along with Hope Grows horticulturist(s) and the students and staff of Bidwell Training Center.

Healing & Restorative Properties

There is a powerful symbol with transitions of plant life in this garden, very relatable to our own birth and death. Spirituality is heightened in this garden from engaging with the element of nature; the wind and stillness.

I am the voice in the fields when the summer’s gone.
The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow.
Ne’er do I sleep throughout all the cold winter long.
I am the force that in springtime will grow.

Suggested Therapeutic Activity

Sit! Be Still! Be marveled by the beauty of the ever-changing ecosystem. The pollinators; the birds, butterflies and the bees that continue to support our critical need for biodiversity and food security are fascinating to watch. Consider the seasons of change as it relates to the calendar and listen for the internal voice. The fields in the summer, the leaves of the autumn, the dormancy of winter and the force of growth in the spring.

Volunteer Schedule

The garden effort on a yearly basis is approximately 3-5 hours every week during the spring and into the late fall season. Once every 2 weeks, for about 1-2 hours is an appropriate time frame for support.

Seasonal Maintenance Description

From spring to winter, this garden requires ongoing maintenance of weeding, hoeing, compost application, planting, cutting, deer and pest application and keeping up with the change of seasonal growth.

Adopt the Garden

Cost: $2,500 yearly

Signage with name/company name will be in placed in the garden for one year.