The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens began the construction of a new Healing Garden Thursday. The healing and peace garden is expected to be a place for spiritual healing, meditation and reflection.
Botanical Gardens President and CEO Dave Swarts says he believes the healing power of the new garden will attract many visitors to the Botanical Gardens.
“It will essentially be a rain garden so the water that drains into the center of this will provide us with a unique opportunity to bring in native and medicinal plants from our area,” said Swarts.
The garden project is a collaborative effort, put together with help from Plant Western New York, the D’Youville College School of Pharmacy, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and the National Garden Festival 2014 LEAF Legacy project. Swarts says the garden is aims to educate visitors on how plants can boost their quality of life.
“What we want to make the public understand is that there is a unique relationship between humans and plant life, not only because the beauty of flowers, but also because of the medication that comes from plants. Also, there’s something wonderful about being able to walk around plants and flowers and get a sense of peace and tranquility,” said Swarts.
The Healing Garden will be located behind the Botanical Gardens main building. The project is expected to be complete by spring of 2015.