15/10/2026
Autumn has truly arrived – misty mornings, did we get a touch of ground frost the other morning?- a definite chill and the woolly jumpers are to hand. But Autumn also brings around acts in the garden that ensure that we have a year of colour and joy to look forward to in 2027. Tasks include cutting back dead herbaceous foliage once we know the green goodness has been stored as next year’s energy, raising the height of the cutting blades on the lawn mower to allow the grass its winter buffer, and maybe the best autumnal job of all is Spring flowering bulb planting.
🌷East Ayrshire Community Hospital - Joan enjoyed her usual warm welcome at East Ayrshire Community Hospital engaging with some of our more elderly community, supporting them plant up a Bulb Lasagne, topped off with winter flowering violas. Royal purple crocus, double flowering tete-a-tetes and rich red dwarf Red Riding Hood tulips will chronologically peep up through the compost from early March onwards.
Whilst the session delivers a tabletop gardening activity, suitable for most abilities, much of the focus is on supporting social outcomes. Lots of great chat around the table, with individuals reminiscing on favourite springtime flowers and plans for a competition to see whose planter is first to show signs of spring time.
🪻 Monday Men mayhem returned with Joan visiting their group for a Bulb Lasagne workshop. Joan especially enjoys this company as the men are willing helpers sorting out the compost into trays, and prepping pots and the likes. Handling the compost and counting/placing the bulbs in correct fashion supports cognitive activity and can promote a more relaxed state of mind, with the men settling into the job - some concentrating more than the others, as there is always a wee bit of friendly competitive rivalry taking place!
At Trellis we strive to support practitioners and care providers engage their clients and participants in nature and garden-based activities. This work wouldn't be possible without our funders and donors. We need your continued support to keep session like these running!
The Monday Men group facilitator shared this with us:
'Another great session from Joan for our Men's Dementia Group - the instructions and guidance are delivered in a really clear and empathetic way that ensured all the boys could get involved and see the fruit of their labours. There was a really positive energy in the room, a focus and a spirit that carried on long after Joan had left, and we are very much looking forward to the December date'
