As the weather gets nicer and nature starts to blossom, you might begin to miss the garden at your previous home. Moving to a retirement community doesn’t need to mean the end of these garden hobbies! Below are some easy ways to exercise your green-thumb, all while living at a retirement home in Edmonton.
1. Grow a house plant
House plants are wonderful ways to keep up your green thumb when you don’t have the space or mobility to tend a full garden anymore. They are hundreds of different types of houseplants, each thriving in different environments. You are sure to find a beautiful houseplant to fit nicely in your retirement home in Edmonton. Here are a few of our favourite house plants that take up little space.
Sansevierias (Snake plants) produce long, sword-shaped leaves that stand completely upright. Its compact shape allows it to work well even in tiny rooms! Its leaves come in many colourful variations and have lovely patterns on them. Sansevieria is famous for being hard to kill. This plant is ideal for seniors at the retirement home in Edmonton who have a busy social calendar because it can survive with little light and only one or two waterings a month.
Orchids are a favourite for the experienced gardener. You will appreciate the opportunity to care for orchids at the retirement home in Edmonton. With just one or two stalks and a few flowers, these plants are perfect for small areas. They also are beautiful and provide a lovely aroma!
If you have space for a hanging plant, an Asparagus Fern is an easy and beautiful option! They have delicate, needle-like leaves that grow in compact bunches. They also regularly produce bright red berries to add a pop of colour to your space! This feathery and fluttering plant makes it perfect for a hanging planter.
African Violets are tiny and don’t take up much space, making them perfect for a bedside table or windowsill in your retirement home in Edmonton. They have stunning heart-shaped leaves with purple, pink, and blue flowers that elevate any space. African violates thrive in humid and moist environments, so seniors don’t need to worry about overwatering them.
2. Bird watch
Garneau Hall has beautifully landscaped gardens that our residents love to walk through and sit in. Sitting outside has many health benefits, including an increase in vitamin D. Laboratory studies show that vitamin D can have lots of health benefits like, helping to control infections, and reduce inflammation. The early morning sunshine is lovely to sit and enjoy your coffee outside at your retirement home in Edmonton.
Now that spring is here, you can make sitting outside more interesting for you or your senior loved one by bird watching! There are many affordable bird books you can purchase, or you can use a free online source by searching “what kind of birds are in Edmonton”. You can go outside with a friend and see who can spot the largest variety of birds, making sure to point them out so you both can enjoy their beauty.
3. Germinate seeds
If you have access to paper towels (or coffee filters), Ziploc bags, and seeds – a fun Spring-time activity you can do at a retirement home in Edmonton is to germinate seeds! This space-friendly activity can be a lot of fun for those with a green thumb, without needing a bunch of trays, pots, or even south-facing windows.
First, gather your supplies. You’ll need either paper towels, coffee filters, or newsprint (whatever you have in your retirement home in Edmonton). You will also need a resealable zip-top bag that has no holes. Finally, you’ll need some seeds! You can use whatever you like, we encourage experimenting and trying multiple new seeds to see what each do.
Next, cut your paper so that it fits in the zip-lock bag. You will then want to wet the paper and wring them out, so that the paper is damp but not drawing in water. After this, place your seeds on the bottom half of the paper, leaving an inch between seeds to give them room to grow! Fold the top half of the paper over the seeds to sandwich them. You will then slide the paper (with seeds) into the baggie. Label the bag with a sharpie marker so that you know what you are watching grow!
We recommend getting some air into the bag using a straw or by pressing your mouth to the opening. Seal the bags up tight! Adding air like this creates a greenhouse effect. You’ll want to place your baggies in a warm area of your suite, but not too hot! If you have a south-facing window that is perfect, but a bathroom, laundry room, or regular window sill is perfect. Don’t place your baggies anywhere too hot, such as on top of a heater, as you risk cooking the seeds before they ever sprout.
Within a few days you should be able to see some little roots beginning to emerge from your seed! If you don’t, no worries – be patient and enjoy getting to see the intriguing process of germination!
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If you’re looking for a VRS seniors retirement community that offers a variety of recreational activities, we are here for you. Feel free to contact us to inquire if we offer assisted living services at this VRS location. Call 780.433.3177 to arrange a tour at one of VRS’ warm and friendly independent seniors communities.