I recently spent time in the Sundre Hospital and Care Centre.
The biggest pleasure of my stay was spending time in the palliative care gardens. This garden is a hidden gem located just off the sunroom. It is totally fenced in with a forest-like background of large trees on the hospital grounds on the northeast side. It is an oasis of beauty with a multitude of plants, flowers, vines and ferns.
I took my roommate out to show her. She had been in the hospital longer than I and didn't even know the garden was there. She was utterly amazed by its beauty. The garden is filled with vibrant colours, scents and foliage of all kinds. It is a place to go be calm and serene, either to rest on a bench or sit in the covered gazebo.
All the planting, pruning, weeding and watering as well as general maintenance of the garden is done by palliative care volunteers. Kudos to these hard-working people who willingly put in so much of their time.
I just hope more people become aware of this beautiful, peaceful place.
Susan Oates
Sundre
