Capacity 20

The TBG Horticultural Therapy Department is launching a pilot program for Tucson-area healthcare workers and care givers. This monthly workshop focuses on supporting mental wellness and reducing burnout through nature-based practices. Led by our HT Team and local specialists, including herbalists, aromatherapists, and mindfulness instructors, the program invites doctors, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to experience the restorative power of therapeutic engagement with plants. We welcome anyone who is interested in learning about strategies for practicing self-compassion, stress reduction, and exploring your connection with nature. Celebrating the energy of the Spring Equinox, join us on March 28^th in creating your own pressed-plant artwork that you will take home, as well as learn how to press your own flowers. All materials provided.

Instructors

Philippa Johnstone, MS, is the Director of Horticultural Therapy at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Her background is in conservation horticulture, gardening education, horticultural therapy, and ecological restoration. She’s passionate about the restorative impacts of nature on people and enjoys plant-based cooking, hiking, and sewing when she’s not in the garden. 

Kristen Sawyer, M.Ed, is new to the Hort Therapy team at the gardens. Her background weaves social emotional wellness, outdoor education, nonviolent communication, and creative writing. When she’s not wandering around the mountains with her family, she’s community-building as leader of her neighborhood association or teaching teens how to connect with themselves, one another, and this wild, magical world.

Refund & Cancellation Policy

No refund will be issued less than 15 days prior to any Community Class. A $10 cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds. No refunds will be issued for special events. We reserve the right to cancel Community Classes due to insufficient registration, garden closure, or inclement weather, in which case, participants will receive a full refund. People with disabilities should make requests for accommodation as early as possible to allow time to make appropriate arrangements.