LARNED — Each spring, on select days in April and May, the Larned State Hospital offers the surrounding community the chance to fill their planter boxes and gardens with locally grown, healthy bedding, vegetable and herb plants. The plants are the end result of a year-long vocational program offered at hospital.
The program is overseen by Chris Perez, the activity therapy director, and activity therapist Denise Sellers. Today, May 11, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., the public is invited to visit the greenhouse, located on the grounds of Larned State Hospital, where they can purchase their pick of over 120 different varieties grown this year, Sellers said. Hanging baskets and french gardens will also be available for Memorial Day.
Production starts early in the summer, washing and recycling and sterilizing pots and trays and ordering supplies in late summer. Then, in November, planting begins, and throughout the fall and winter months, the plants are cared for, moved from plugs to pots, and are ready for sale in April, Sellers said.
She has been part of the activity therapy staff since August, 1992, and was there when the hospital began the Prairie Treasures program in 1996. It was started to offer something new for patients, she remembers.
The community has been very supportive of the program, Sellers said. Local business and staff members are frequent repeat customers.
In March, a new, state-of-the-art greenhouse replaced the original structure built in 1955. It includes an automated ventilation system that is freeing up time for Sellers to spend more time with patients.
“Compared to the old greenhouse, this is like night and day, because the old greenhouse was tinted-over, and there was not much light coming in,” Perez said.
Sellers is already looking at fine-tuning her planting schedule because the additional light is encouraging the plants to grow faster. Perez credits her with pulling off a miracle, getting so many plants ready in time for the sale on such a tight timeline.
“Her and her workers did an excellent job,” he said.
In addition to the plant propagation, Sellers uses plants for her afternoon sessions.
Some of the sessions involve Sellers introducing different plants with a focus on sight and smell. She teaches the different parts of plants, where they come from, as well as what they are used for.
“We use plants as a medium to break patients out of their shells,” Perez said. “Her groups are small and intimate, which allows the patients to express themselves without having to worry about their peers.”
In addition to the spring sales, patients also propagate and care for tropical plants year round, and in the fall and winter assemble craft and gift items, including Christmas wreaths.
The plant therapy program is one of a couple vocational therapies offered to patients. Others include creative art, recreation and music therapy.

Photos by Veronica Coons

Larned State Hospital Activity Therapy Director Chris Perez and therapist Denise Sellers were on hand Thursday afternoon as the Prairie Treasures greenhouse opened to the public for the afternoon. Bedding plants, vegetables and herbs propagated and cared for by patients and volunteers at the hospital were available for purchase along with a number of garden-related crafts. The sale continues all day today, and two more days later in May.

Greenhouse
This year, Larned State Hospital replaced the 50 year-old greenhouse with a modern greenhouse, which is letting more light in, which is helping Prairie Treasures to produce higher quality plants in less time. A new automated ventilation system is also freeing up time for staff and volunteers. Signs along the hospital’s outer drive point the way to the greenhouse.

(inset sign picture)