Pictured (from left) Adult Day Center of Somerset County member Nina Guerriero, Sen. Kip Bateman (R-16th), Adult Day Center of Somerset County staff member Debbie Cocino, Adult Day Center of Somerset County member Pauline Meske; Registered Horticultural Therapist Laura DePrado, Adult Day Center of Somerset County Board Chairman Dave Tucker, Somerset County Freeholder Pat Walsh, Adult Day Center of Somerset County member Tom Blue, Vice President of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscaping Association Jack Otterbein, Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine and Adult Day Center of Somerset County member Bobby Rembilas. (courtesy photo)
BRIDGEWATER – The Adult Day Center of Somerset County recently celebrated Horticultural Therapy Week.
Members, staff and guests – including Sen. Kip Bateman (R-16th), Somerset County Freeholders Brian Levine and Patricia Walsh, and Jack Otterbein, vice president of New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association – took part in activities presented by Laura DePrado of Final Touch Plantscaping.
New Jersey is the first in the nation to formally designate the third week of March, coinciding, with the beginning of spring as Horticultural Therapy Week, according to a news release. The Adult Day Center is a non-profit agency providing day care services for disabled and elderly residents of Somerset County.
“Horticultural Therapy is very effective because the people-plant connection proves to be therapeutic and enjoyable for everyone involved,” Bateman said.