Creating a Healing Space Through the Beauty of the Garden
When we were approached to create a healing garden at the downtown campus of Mercy Hospital, we knew the immense importance that this space would have. This would be a place of respite for the hospital staff, patients, guests, & the community at-large. We felt privileged to be invited to create this significant garden for Mercy Hospital & Bakersfield. We set out to create a truly unique garden that would thrive year after year & offer something new with each passing season.
First, we undertook a detailed site analysis of the area that was to be redeveloped. This “corridor” space was very unique. It took sharp turns & changed angles quickly as you passed through it. There were areas open to glass window views, while other areas were very secluded. Also, there were environmental factors to consider. Primarily, there was a substantial amount of noise from Truxtun Avenue & mechanical equipment attached to the building. Regardless, we knew the site’s challenges were really just opportunities for us to be creative!
We had a number of key goals for the healing garden. First, we wanted to create a welcoming space that invited guests to meander through the garden & explore its entirety. Next, once guests had explored the garden, we wanted to offer them places to sit & relax in its comfort. We knew that we would need to capitalize on shade patterns of the neighboring building structure & to create new organic shade as well. We also wanted to create soothing sounds throughout the garden to drown out the negative sounds of the road noise & mechanical equipment. Finally, we wanted a diverse planting palette that would offer a variety of textures, colors, & bloom patterns.
The development of the healing garden, like many landscape designs, began with its hardscape. We first created a sweeping, meandering path that traversed through the landscape comfortably. We used a texture stamped concrete to give it an earthier feel & to distinguish it from the traditional grey broom finish concrete that surrounded the rest of the facility. In order to break-up the flatness of the landscape, we created a series of raised planters that emerge along the path & offer additional seating. In matching style, we built a number of custom benches to give even more seating throughout the garden.
After the hardscape was completed, we set out to develop water features that would create a variety of sounds throughout the landscape design. We used a selection of urn fountains, bird bath fountains, & even rock waterfalls to give guests a unique experience & aid in muffling the road noise. Each one has a unique style & sound, giving guests a reason to come back for multiple visits. We also made all of the water features pond-less to reduce overall maintenance needs.
Once we had our hardscape in place & our water features developed, we set out to create the planting palette for the healing garden. We used a mixture of Oak trees, Ginkgos & Junipers to give a variety of greens & the Ginkgos offer a beautiful Fall color change. Red Japanese Maples offer a bold contrast to the field of greens. We also salvaged a number of large Birch trees that helped to create overlapping fields of shade. We also used a lush, Boxwood hedge to accentuate the walkway through the healing garden. We also incorporated the use of pots as well to offer seasonal color & another elevation change within the planters. Azaleas, Hawthornes, Gardenias, Kangaroo Paws, & Leriopes fill the planter beds with color & texture.
Now, what was once a rarely traversed utility walkway has become a lush oasis on the hospital’s campus. We are overjoyed that it has become a sanctuary for patients & their families. We also love the fact that many hard-working, dedicated hospital employees now have a garden to call their own.
