Therapeutic Horticulture Internship 2022
When I was accepted to intern at Denver Botanic Gardens, I packed my bag and came to Colorado. This summer was filled with new experiences and learning in a way I never thought imaginable.
I was fully enveloped in horticultural therapy right from the beginning. With a variety of programs, I was not only able to meet and interact with different groups of people, but I was able to learn from them as well. For the individuals I saw consistently every week, I witnessed amazing progress, with assistive devices slowly being forgotten used less and efficiency blooming. Each experience illuminated new insights for these individuals and inspired me in unimaginable ways.
I also had the opportunity to shadow the Chatfield Farms Veterans Farm Program. My experience here has completely solidified the idea of working in horticultural therapy, and I hope to be back soon. I also had the opportunity to work with individuals from Craig Hospital over the duration of my 10 weeks at the Gardens. Working with these individuals was a highlight of my summer. They are bright, funny, dedicated individuals that truly made this an incredible experience.
When I wasn’t working with these groups, Denver Botanic Gardens offered classes, field trips and workshops to the intern program so we could get a well-rounded education here. I climbed my first ever mountain to see a natural alpine life zone, visited a variety of parks and natural areas to learn about wildflowers, learned about the different plant families and their classifications and most importantly, I met and worked with the most amazing people.
I learned a lot while at the Gardens – about myself, about life and Colorado. I will continue to use everything I gained from this experience in the future, and I feel extremely lucky that I had the ability to immerse myself in the Rocky Mountain Region.
This article was contributed by Alivia Arlia, the 2022 Therapeutic Horticulture Intern.
Gallery
![interns on trail](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/image/2022-08/Holding%20Katie%20while%20she%20leans%20over%20the%20edge%20of%20a%20trail%20to%20search%20for%20seeds.jpg?itok=l_HjYHfU)
![Kids activities](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/image/2022-08/Me%20giving%20instruction%20to%20a%20group%20of%20children%20about%20the%20plant%20activities%20planned%20for%20the%20program.jpg?itok=TedeYcZZ)
![Holding horny toad](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/image/2022-08/Me%20holding%20a%20horny%20toad%20found%20at%20Pawnee%20Buttes.jpg?itok=LlCv5xvY)
![Vail](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/image/2022-08/The%20view%20from%20the%20top%20of%20the%20mountain%20hike%20at%20Vail.jpg?itok=FpXr34Zk)
![toad](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/image/2022-08/A%20handsome%20little%20frog%20enjoying%20his%20day%20in%20the%20Rock%20Alpine%20Garden.jpg?itok=fXBwju4E)
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