Assistant Agriculture Secretary Alfred Murray, Stat Sen. Christopher “Kip” Batemen, R-16; and Laura Deprado of Final Touch Plantscaping visit the Chesea at Warren.

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The NJ Senate held Ceremonial for SJR12, designation third week of March as ​”​Horticultural Therapy Week​,” first in the nation. ​​Photo (Courtesy of NJ Senate) Left to right: Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, Senator Michael Doherty, MaryAnne McMillan, HTR, Immediate Past President American Horticultural Therapy Association, Senator Anthony Bucco, Senator Tom Kean, Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Senator Kip Bateman​, Rotary Club of Branchburg, ​Laura DePrado, HTR, Final Touch Plantscaping, LLC., Rotary Club of Branchburg; Michael DePrado, Evelyn and Vincent Lipiniski,​ super seniors,​Dominick Mondi, Executive Director, New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, Senator Nick Scutari, Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, Senator Bob Smith, Frank Whittlesey.

Horticultural Therapy Week is Sunday, March 20th to 26th.

Just in time for Spring, the Garden State, designates third week of March as “Horticultural Therapy Week”, inaugurated in Ceremonial Senate Resolution on Monday March 14th.

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(Photo: ~Courtesy of Somerset County Office of Public Information)

Gov. Chris Christie and New Jersey Legislature have declared March 20-26 and every year thereafter as ‘Horticultural Therapy Week’ to coincide with the beginning of spring.

New Jersey is the first in the nation to formally designate this week, initially established by Congress in 2006, to celebrate the benefits of connecting people and plants in vocational, social and therapeutic programs in a peaceful non-threatening environment using horticulture modality to improve the quality of life. (more…)

Hunterdon Freeholder Director Suzanne Lagay (right) presents to Laura DePrado a proclamation on Feb. 16 recognizing the third full week of March as Horticultural Therapy Week in Hunterdon (Sallie Graziano | For NJ.com)

New Jersey is the first state in the nation to name March 20-26 Horticultural Therapy Week, coinciding with the start of spring.

The designation is meant to showcase the benefits of connecting people and plants in vocational, social and therapeutic programs to improve the quality of life. Gov. Christie signed the legislation on May 11, 2015.

Laura DePrado, a registered horticultural therapist who owns Final Touch Plantscaping in Somerset County, spearheaded the New Jersey legislation. She shared some facts about horticultural therapy. (more…)

Honored to receive Proclamation from the Somerset County Freeholders for “Horticultural Therapy Week” March 20-26 from Director Patricia Walsh with Senator “Kip” Bateman. Senate Ceremonial will take place Monday, March 14th, inaugurating third week of March beginning this year, and every year thereafter as “Horticultural Therapy Week” in the Garden State to connect people and plants.

March 9th- Governor Chris Christie and New Jersey Legislature have declared this third week of March, 20-26, “Horticultural Therapy Week”, to coincide with the beginning of spring. New Jersey is the first in the nation to formally designate this week, initially established by Congress in 2006, to celebrate the endless benefits of connecting people and plants in vocational, social and therapeutic programs in a peaceful non-threatening environment using horticulture modality to improve the quality of life. During 2014-2015 legislative session, SJR12 (Bateman-Vitale), AJR13 (Simon-Vanieri-Huttle) passed its way in and out of senior, health and human services committees, Full Senate and Full Assembly and was signed by Governor Christie on May 11, 2015. (more…)