For centuries, people have turned to plants for nourishment, beauty, and healing. In today’s fast-paced world, caring for a plant has become a simple yet powerful way to slow down, reconnect, and nurture hope. Inspired by this, our team at the Berks Acute Partial Hospitalization Program (APHP) created Nurture Resilience: Adopt a Plant Day, a joyful event in which clients could discover the healing power of horticulture and take home a living reminder of growth and resilience.
The idea was sparked by Registered Nurse Kelly Naylon, who knows firsthand about the power of plants: “After being diagnosed with breast cancer at 33-years-old, and throughout chemotherapy, radiation, and beyond, plants became my therapy and source of healing,” she recalls. “What began as a way to cope has since become a lifelong passion, and I feel truly grateful to share this with the clients in our program.”
Thanks to a generous donation from Morning Dew Tropical Plants, Kelly’s vision came to life. Over the summer, clients of all ages gathered to explore the world of plants, each choosing one to adopt. Associates guided them through learning about different species of plants, their care needs, and how tending to plants can mirror the process of tending to their own well-being. Each client was given a plant, as well as a special handout filled with care instructions, fun facts, and reflections on the connection between growth and recovery.
The experience echoed what experts have observed for years. In The Well Gardened Mind, author Sue Stuart-Smith shares that simply being around plants can increase trust, generosity, and connection. She describes plants as people, stating “like people, they need your help. Without you, they do not live” — a simple but powerful reminder of the healing that comes from nurturing life.
At KidsPeace, we are so grateful to Kelly for sharing her passion and to Morning Dew Tropical Plants for their incredible support. Together, they’ve planted seeds of healing that we know will continue to grow.
