Hank Bruce's Blog
April 4, 2017
Green Thumbs & Gray Hair Update
Greetings Goodreads friends and readers.
Since the release of "Miracles Grow in the Garden" last spring we have been busy on another project that has been about five years in the making.
Tomi and I hope to finally see the release of our latest horticultural therapy book soon. “Green Thumbs & Gray Hair, Seniors Gardening for Health” discusses the value of connecting with plants as we age. This book explores the ways gardening can benefit us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually isn’t only for senior citizens or professional horticultural therapists. It’s a useful resource for family members, caregivers, healthcare staff, friends, and anyone who has the opportunity with live or work with “old folks.”
Several health problems have slowed our work on this book, but is’s about ready. Will be posting an update with more information soon.
We are now writing a regular therapeutic horticulture column for Creative Forecasting , a Monthly Publication for Activity & Recreational Professionals. These are great folks to work with and we are honored to be a part of this valuable resource.
Peace, Hank
Since the release of "Miracles Grow in the Garden" last spring we have been busy on another project that has been about five years in the making.
Tomi and I hope to finally see the release of our latest horticultural therapy book soon. “Green Thumbs & Gray Hair, Seniors Gardening for Health” discusses the value of connecting with plants as we age. This book explores the ways gardening can benefit us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually isn’t only for senior citizens or professional horticultural therapists. It’s a useful resource for family members, caregivers, healthcare staff, friends, and anyone who has the opportunity with live or work with “old folks.”
Several health problems have slowed our work on this book, but is’s about ready. Will be posting an update with more information soon.
We are now writing a regular therapeutic horticulture column for Creative Forecasting , a Monthly Publication for Activity & Recreational Professionals. These are great folks to work with and we are honored to be a part of this valuable resource.
Peace, Hank
July 22, 2016
Miracles Grow in the Garden
In Feb. Tomi and I released “Miracles Grow in the Garden.”
The garden is full of miracles. They happen every day. A seed sprouting, or a flower opening is a miracle, as are the transformation from flower to fruit, the life journey of a butterfly, and a songbird symphony.
It’s a miracle when hope is renewed with the gift of a rose. It’s a miracle. When a victim of abuse is empowered by the successful nurturing of a seed into a flower. It’s a miracle when a group of children with special needs become the experts at their school garden.
These pages contain eighty brief commentaries from Tomi’s experiences in ministry and my work in horticultural therapy. There’s even recipes for Dandelion Blossom Ice Cream, Tomato Pie and Tumbleweed Soup.
These inspiring, uplifting, and often humorous commentaries are about everyday miracles; not the kind of miracles that happen with trumpets blaring or the earth shaking. These aren’t impossible feats of strength or profound acts of faith. But, these are the kinds of miracles that happen every day, all around us.
This isn’t a book about alternative medicine or the miracle fruit of the day. Nor is it a “how to” garden book. It is a collection of brief vingettes exploring what happens when we garden. This is why hospitals have healing gardens and special gardens exist for those with dementia.
This is why there is a field called horticultural therapy. These special garden moments each explore ways gardening activity can improve quality of life, provide empowerment and promote healing, both physical and emotional.
The garden is a safe place that provides reasons to smile, opportunities to meditate, communicate, nurture another living thing, cultivate fond memories and experience personal miracles.
Hope you can spend some time with your plants, either in the garden, the landscape or on the windowsill. It can be time well spent. If you would like to see more about horticultural therapy please let me know. Thanks. Peace Miracles Grow in the Garden
The garden is full of miracles. They happen every day. A seed sprouting, or a flower opening is a miracle, as are the transformation from flower to fruit, the life journey of a butterfly, and a songbird symphony.
It’s a miracle when hope is renewed with the gift of a rose. It’s a miracle. When a victim of abuse is empowered by the successful nurturing of a seed into a flower. It’s a miracle when a group of children with special needs become the experts at their school garden.
These pages contain eighty brief commentaries from Tomi’s experiences in ministry and my work in horticultural therapy. There’s even recipes for Dandelion Blossom Ice Cream, Tomato Pie and Tumbleweed Soup.
These inspiring, uplifting, and often humorous commentaries are about everyday miracles; not the kind of miracles that happen with trumpets blaring or the earth shaking. These aren’t impossible feats of strength or profound acts of faith. But, these are the kinds of miracles that happen every day, all around us.
This isn’t a book about alternative medicine or the miracle fruit of the day. Nor is it a “how to” garden book. It is a collection of brief vingettes exploring what happens when we garden. This is why hospitals have healing gardens and special gardens exist for those with dementia.
This is why there is a field called horticultural therapy. These special garden moments each explore ways gardening activity can improve quality of life, provide empowerment and promote healing, both physical and emotional.
The garden is a safe place that provides reasons to smile, opportunities to meditate, communicate, nurture another living thing, cultivate fond memories and experience personal miracles.
Hope you can spend some time with your plants, either in the garden, the landscape or on the windowsill. It can be time well spent. If you would like to see more about horticultural therapy please let me know. Thanks. Peace Miracles Grow in the Garden
June 8, 2014
Can We Grow Peace in the Garden?
We have had the opportunity to work with Miho Komatsu, a gifted artist and musician. She illustrated "Miracle of the Moringa Tree" our first children's book. She has now provided more great art work to illustrate "The Children's Peace Garden."
Our goal is to have this book in print by the end of July. It was created to help children, families and communities find constructive ways to respond to conflict, prejudice, bullying, violence and ignorance.
The hope is that communities around the world will begin discussions on how to respond to these problems in a positive way and offers the concept of a peace garden as a safe place to begin to work together.
We have been asked to share this story with organizations around the world working to promote peace and celebrate the diversity that defines the human race. If you are a part of, or know of such an organization, please let me know. We are all in this together and each of us can be a part of the answer.
Our goal is to have this book in print by the end of July. It was created to help children, families and communities find constructive ways to respond to conflict, prejudice, bullying, violence and ignorance.
The hope is that communities around the world will begin discussions on how to respond to these problems in a positive way and offers the concept of a peace garden as a safe place to begin to work together.
We have been asked to share this story with organizations around the world working to promote peace and celebrate the diversity that defines the human race. If you are a part of, or know of such an organization, please let me know. We are all in this together and each of us can be a part of the answer.
March 1, 2012
Some of My Best Friends Are Green
Welcome to my blog, but this isn’t really my blog at all. This is a dialog, a conversation between friends, an opportunity for both of us to share thoughts and learn from each other.
Each and everyone of us is the product of our youth and the example we saw in our parents. I am truly blessed with the parents and two older brothers who guided my journey through childhood.
My mother had this little story she used to tell me over and over during my childhood. I share this with you as a statement of why I read and write.
“If I have a dollar and you have a dollar, and I give you mine dollar and you give me your dollar, we both walk away with a dollar. If I have an idea, and you have an idea, and I give you my idea and you give me your idea, we both walk away with two ideas.”
My father was a carpenter and I grew up watching him share the artistry of his hands, and with wisdom of his mind. He was able to listen when people came to him with a problem, and with a smile lead them to a solution. Usually he would, in the process share, a story or two and a little laughter along the way. He taught me that it was all right to dream, and that a mistake was an opportunity to learn and do better the next time.
Mom & Dad often advised me, “Look for the good in everyone . You can learn something from everybody you meet, if you shut up and listen.” he was right. They also gave me a deep appreciation for a good story, both read and heard, and the knowledge that the good stories come form the everyday people.
This is the true value of communication, the trading of ideas, thoughts and the sheer joy of living. Much of my communication is through plants. Formally, this is called horticultural therapy. One of my heroes, Charles Lewis, in his pivotal book "Green Nature, Human Nature," referred to it as the people-plant connection.
Engaging in the activity of nurturing plants, experiencing them with our senses, and sharing them like Mom shared ideas, is empowering for all of us. Being with plants is also calming and can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve our circulation along with our attitude.
Even if the garden is a plant or two on the windowsill, there are opportunities for discovery, and opportunities to share the joy and the humor that is our reward for being in the companionship of plants. Yes, some of my best friends are green. Hmmmmm. That might be the title of a future book
Each and everyone of us is the product of our youth and the example we saw in our parents. I am truly blessed with the parents and two older brothers who guided my journey through childhood.
My mother had this little story she used to tell me over and over during my childhood. I share this with you as a statement of why I read and write.
“If I have a dollar and you have a dollar, and I give you mine dollar and you give me your dollar, we both walk away with a dollar. If I have an idea, and you have an idea, and I give you my idea and you give me your idea, we both walk away with two ideas.”
My father was a carpenter and I grew up watching him share the artistry of his hands, and with wisdom of his mind. He was able to listen when people came to him with a problem, and with a smile lead them to a solution. Usually he would, in the process share, a story or two and a little laughter along the way. He taught me that it was all right to dream, and that a mistake was an opportunity to learn and do better the next time.
Mom & Dad often advised me, “Look for the good in everyone . You can learn something from everybody you meet, if you shut up and listen.” he was right. They also gave me a deep appreciation for a good story, both read and heard, and the knowledge that the good stories come form the everyday people.
This is the true value of communication, the trading of ideas, thoughts and the sheer joy of living. Much of my communication is through plants. Formally, this is called horticultural therapy. One of my heroes, Charles Lewis, in his pivotal book "Green Nature, Human Nature," referred to it as the people-plant connection.
Engaging in the activity of nurturing plants, experiencing them with our senses, and sharing them like Mom shared ideas, is empowering for all of us. Being with plants is also calming and can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve our circulation along with our attitude.
Even if the garden is a plant or two on the windowsill, there are opportunities for discovery, and opportunities to share the joy and the humor that is our reward for being in the companionship of plants. Yes, some of my best friends are green. Hmmmmm. That might be the title of a future book
