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BATHTUB GARDENS

© Diana Pederson

I've searched for unique ideas for gardens for the physically disabled on the Web and in various garden-related e-mail groups. In the course of conversations with Dolores the Hosta Lady from the Hosta e-mail robin, I learned of her Aunt Mary's unique garden. Aunt Mary lived before telephones and TVs were standard equipment in every home. She gardened for recreation although she had lost the use of her legs to polio (in the days before the polio vaccine). I believe that Aunt Mary's solution to gardening is the most unique I've heard of anywhere!

Aunt Mary collected old bathtubs*. These bathtubs were scattered throughout her yard. Some were located in sunny places while others were in the shade. Soil and large rocks were used to landscape the space between and around the tubs. Paths covered with ground covers led between them. Aunt Mary planted rock garden plants and grasses in the rocks surrounding the tubs. She also had iris and daylily beds on one side of her tub garden and a garden of fruiting shrubs for the birds on the other side. Children played in the grassy area that formed a backdrop for the gardens.

Some tubs were filled with compost and specialized soil mixtures. Since Aunt Mary was connected with the Missouri Botanical Gardens, she had plants from around the world. Using bathtubs made it easier for her to provide the specialized soil mixtures they needed. She had other tubs filled with water for water plants and fish. Imagine looking out over this scene!

Dolores shared her memories of pleasant summer evenings sitting by the garden while drinking her grandpa's homemade root beer. I can't imagine a more pleasant scene. Aunt Mary didn't allow her disability to stop her from gardening even in the days before adaptive tools. She loved plants and nature and found a way to enjoy both. Dolores' family only regrets that no pictures exist of the gardens because they were buried under tons of soil after Aunt Mary died.

Suggestion for Renovators

Dolores' story about her Aunt Mary's garden led me to think about a unique possibility in today's world. Most large cities have building renovation companies that tear down old buildings. Surely some of those buildings have bathtubs. These could be donated to a local rehabilitation center for gardening purposes! If you happen to be a physical or occupational therapist reading this, consider contacting a firm like this in your locality. You could help recycle old bathtubs and provide gardens easily tended by disabled people at the same time.

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