Newly planted garden helps bring Ashton Family Terrace to life

One year after Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital embarked on a renovation process to improve the environment on 2 South, the hospital’s locked inpatient psychiatric unit, the Department of Psychiatry has further enhanced the Ashton Family Terrace with a newly planted garden.

The Ashton Family Terrace is a dedicated outdoor space for 2 South patients. “We decided to add a garden with the intent to provide fresh plants for the patients to enjoy and cultivate as a therapeutic intervention,” says Director of Inpatient Psychiatric Nursing Paula Knotts, MSN, RN-BC, NE-BC. “It is the hope and intent that this garden will provide an opportunity for patients to enjoy caring for the plants as well as a sensory experience.”

Head groundskeeper Deb LaScaleia provided the soil and plants, which include basil, thyme, mint, cilantro, sage, lettuce, lemon verbena, cherry tomatoes, impatiens and marigolds. And Occupational Therapy Clinical Supervisor Kathy Hanlan provided additional plants and supplies. Mental Health Worker Rickie Rampersad then took over planting alongside a long-term patient. It was all made possible by inspiration and guidance from the terrace’s namesake Judy Ashton and Dr. Benjamin Yudkoff.