Horticultural Therapy, Hosta Societies & Healing Through Gardening | Barb Rauckhorst of North Coast Hosta Society

What if gardening wasn't just a hobby — but a path to healing? This episode of Hosta La Vista goes somewhere a little deeper than usual, and we think it might be one you'll want to share.

This week, Betsy and Mandy head to Cuyahoga County, Ohio to sit down with Barb Rauckhorst — President of the North Coast Hosta Society, proud Master Gardener, and someone whose personal connection to the garden goes well beyond beautiful leaves and shade beds. Barb's story touches on something that stopped Betsy in her tracks: horticultural therapy — the practice of using gardening and plant-based activities to support healing, wellness, and mental health.

Barb shares how she fell in love with hostas, what it takes to lead one of Ohio's most active local hosta societies, and what the Master Gardener program really means to the people in it. Her warmth and passion for community gardening come through in every answer — and her personal connection to horticultural therapy gives this conversation a dimension that goes far beyond plant talk.

After the interview wraps, Betsy dives into the history of horticultural therapy — a practice with roots stretching back centuries that is only now getting the mainstream recognition it deserves. If you've never heard of it, you're not alone. Betsy hadn't either — until Barb's story sent her down a research rabbit hole that she is very glad she fell into.

Horticultural therapy is used in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, memory care facilities, correctional institutions, veterans programs, and mental health treatment — and the evidence behind it is growing. If you work in healthcare, wellness, or education, or if you've ever found yourself feeling genuinely better after time in the garden and wondered why — this episode will resonate.

This is one of those episodes that listeners have been passing along. We think you'll understand why once you hear it.

Topics covered:

• What is horticultural therapy and how does it work
• The history of horticultural therapy — from ancient practice to modern treatment
• Horticultural therapy in hospitals, memory care, veterans programs, and mental health treatment
• Barb Rauckhorst's personal connection to healing through gardening
• Leading the North Coast Hosta Society in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
• What the Master Gardener program is and what it means to participants
• Growing membership and community in a local hosta society
• Why gardening is good for your mental health — and the science behind it

To learn more about horticultural therapy, visit the American Horticultural Therapy Association at www.ahta.org.

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