Wellness Garden Services

Why Nature is Necessary For a Better Life

Humans have always desired a connection with nature. There are unique and healing qualities that civilizations have tapped into since the beginning of time (think the hanging gardens of Babylon). For this reason, being outdoors gardening, taking a walk through the park or hiking through the forest, humans have found solace in nature for centuries.

However, a shortage of green spaces and an emerging culture of technology-obsessed people has caused nature deprivation and a disconnect with the world around us. Although quality time outside is hard to come by, it’s important to make nature a part of daily life.

Horticulture Therapy

Therapeutic horticulture is the process of using gardening, plant care, and interaction with nature to improve mental, physical, and emotional well-being. It is a structured, yet flexible practice that can be adapted for different populations, including those with physical disabilities, mental health conditions, cognitive impairments, or simply individuals seeking stress relief and mindfulness.

Things you’ll love about your new Landscape Design:

• There’s something blooming every season and it even looks good in winter.
• All of your senses are stimulated; its not just nice-looking landscaping.
• Your garden can have a special purpose; Whether it be your Zen haven, a food source or both!
• The convenience of having your very own spot designed specifically for you, to enjoy.
• Your landscaping will be unique to you, not a cookie-cutter plan many landscape companies pass off to all their clients.
• It doesn’t have to break the bank; with a plan, you can go along in stages or additionally, install yourself to really stretch those dollars!

Furthermore, a Wellness Garden will CRUSH these excuses:

“Nature Can’t Do Anything for Me.”
Everyone can benefit from a Wellness Garden! Numerous studies show that spending time in nature promotes healing, but decide for yourself? Challenge yourself to spend 120 minutes in nature this week and see if you feel a positive difference. I’m confident you will—and when you do, let’s talk!

“My Schedule Won’t Allow Me to Spend Time in Nature.”
Life is hectic, and finding time to visit parks or hiking trails can feel impossible. Even when you do, distractions often disrupt the experience. A personal Wellness Garden eliminates those challenges by bringing the restorative power of nature right to your doorstep.

“I’m Blind. How Can I Enjoy Landscaping When I Can’t See It?”
A garden isn’t just for the eyes. It can certainly engage all your senses! Picture the soothing sound of a bubbling water feature, the fragrant aroma of blooming flowers, or the comforting texture of soft, fuzzy leaves. A sensory-focused design can create a deeply enriching experience for you.

“Getting Outside Is Difficult Due to Health or Mobility Issues.”
Mobility challenges don’t have to limit your connection to nature. Thoughtful design can address your needs by incorporating features like wider, smooth pathways, accessible seating areas, and eliminating barriers like steps. A Wellness Garden can be designed to fit you perfectly.

“I’m Housebound and Can Only Look Out the Window.”
Even if you can’t step outside, nature can come to you. With strategic plantings and features designed to attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife, your window view can transform into a vibrant, living landscape—bringing the outdoors inside.

“My Loved One Has Dementia, and I Worry About Them Eating Unsafe Plants.”
No challenge is without a solution. For loved ones with dementia, a carefully curated edible garden ensures both safety and enjoyment. Every plant will be chosen with care to create a worry-free, enriching outdoor experience.

ISA Licensed Arborist Services

I’m an ISA licensed arborist that keeps her feet on the ground. I do NOT do any type of labor, however hope to connect with an arborist that does.

Accordingly, the focus of these types of Wellness Gardens is primarily on incorporating safe plants and friendly wildlife into the space. Settings can be designed to include active uses such as raised planters for horticultural therapy activities or programmed for passive uses such as quiet private sitting areas.

It can be tough finding funding and navigating the needs of your clients, however that’s where I come in. Not only am I a landscape designer, I can help write your grant to fund your Wellness Garden, as well!

Seems all you need is 120 minutes a week to escape to a community park, hike through the woods, or have a picnic to make yourself feel better. The most compelling evidence proves nature can lower a person’s stress levels, decrease blood pressure and reduce the risk of asthma, allergies, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, while boosting mental health and increasing life expectancy. Doctors have even begun prescribing time in nature as a way of improving their patients’ health.

Sadly, not everyone is capable of this seemingly, simple activity of getting outside. Whether it’s due to a busy schedule, health issues, lack of mobility or diminished mental health, nature takes a back seat. Consequently, this keeps folks from enjoying the benefits that nature can provide.

It doesn’t have to be like this for you.

The purpose of a Wellness Garden is to distract you from the unhealthy thoughts spinning in your head. When your senses are distracted by sights, sounds and smells (among other senses), your mind can be easily swayed to relax and live in the moment. Many times, these in the moment sessions can bring about solutions to your problems and to better health.

At Wellness Garden Services, I create outdoor spaces that are specifically designed to meet your physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs.

When my mother became housebound due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and had to rely on oxygen, her world shrank significantly. She rarely left the house, except for doctor’s appointments.

Once an avid gardener who found joy in tending to her plants, she could no longer work in the garden. COPD left her easily winded, while humidity and allergens made it difficult for her to breathe. As a result, she couldn’t stroll through the yard or experience the simple pleasures of nature that she loved so much.

Seeing how her indoor isolation was affecting her spirit, I decided to bring a little bit of nature to her. Since she couldn’t move around the yard, I created a small garden just outside the door where she could sit and enjoy the outdoors. I designed it to engage all her senses, featuring flowers that bloomed throughout the season, soothing fragrances, calming sounds, and wildlife to bring her joy.

After her passing, I felt inspired to refine my landscape design skills to help others reconnect with nature in their own spaces. This passion led me to start Wellness Garden Services, where I focus on creating outdoor spaces that offer more than just curb appeal. My goal is to design gardens that invite families to connect, provide a safe place for pets to play, or simply offer a peaceful retreat from the busyness of life.

I truly believe that spending time in a thoughtfully designed garden can be a healing experience, and I hope others will come to feel the same in their own Wellness Gardens. Because nature heals!

Greetings! A Little More About Me!

Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Holly, and I’ve been a gardener for as long as I can remember—it’s truly in my roots, and even my name reflects my deep connection to nature.

Growing up in Illinois, I spent my childhood immersed in the joys of gardening, growing vegetables with my father and nurturing flowers with my mother. Now, I call the beautiful town of Ponce de Leon, Florida, my home.

I hold a degree in Horticulture with a specialization in Natural Areas Management, along with certifications in Landscape Design, Landscape Maintenance, and Urban Forestry Management. As a licensed Arborist through the International Society of Arborists, I bring a strong foundation of expertise to my work. Additionally, I’ve shared my passion for design by teaching Computer Landscape Design at the College of Lake County.

With over 18 years of experience in landscape design and budgeting, I’m dedicated to creating outdoor spaces that are not only beautiful but also meaningful and functional for every client I work with.

I am currently enrolled in the Horticulture Therapy program at the University of Florida.

Contact me for a free consultation!

Quick P.S. – Are you looking to Homestead? So am I! I’m slowly converting my 10 acres into a ‘food forest’ and can show you how to as well!