A Bit of History
The original Therapy Garden was located at PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s old South Campus near Western Washington University, started by a Master Gardener named Lu Schneider. The intent was to create a garden that gave patients a natural setting to achieve rehabilitation goals, like balance, gripping, and relearning language skills. Raised garden beds were accessible for both from a standing position or seated in a wheelchair. Volunteers from the Washington State University Extension Master Gardeners program built the garden with support from PeaceHealth St. Joseph Foundation and a number of community businesses.
The Garden Today
In 2016, the hospital asked the WSU Master Gardeners to help move the Therapy Garden to its current location at the main hospital campus. Today, the Therapy Garden continues to flourish, though its location has shifted over the years. It remains an oasis of green, fostering recovery and connection for patients from all walks of life. Raised beds filled with herbs, vegetables, and flowers offer tactile opportunities for therapy, while accessible pathways wind through shaded corners and sunny plots. The garden has evolved to support not only physical rehabilitation, but also emotional well-being, providing a space for quiet reflection, group activities, and community gatherings.
The inpatient rehabilitation unit at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham closed in September 2018, but the garden continues to be enjoyed by patients, staff, and visitors. The Therapy Garden is maintained by volunteers from the Whatcom WSU Master Gardeners, with watering help from patients in the Behavioral Evaluation unit, and supported by the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation, the Master Gardener Foundation of Whatcom County, North Star Stone, and A1 Design Build.
Therapy Garden Plant Map
