On Friday, September 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Therapy Network will hold their annual conference at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township, NJ.

 The Frelinghuysen Arboretum is the perfect setting to hold this year’s event as the theme is horticultural therapy. The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, a facility of the Morris County Park Commission, has a dynamic horticultural therapy program, which provides internships for high school students with special needs, as well as recreational classes for a wide range of populations from seniors, adults with development and physical disabilities, as well as children with special needs. The conference will bring together horticultural therapists from the mid-Atlantic region and interested friends and families.

Speaker and Registered Horticultural Therapist, Patty Cassidy will share her experience providing horticultural therapy programming to individuals with memory loss. She works at the award-winning Portland Memory Garden, part of the Portland Public Parks System.   

Participants of the conference can enjoy a guided tour of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum gardens, including the Scherer Garden for special needs populations, and participate in mock classes engaging in an activity utilized in horticultural therapy classes. 

     Registration is required and can be made by visiting mahtn.org. The cost is $85 per person which includes morning refreshments, lunch, craft materials, lecture, and tours.