The wellness initiative that Lee Memorial Health System’s Cape Coral Hospital began is producing some rewarding results. This past December, the hospital hosted an onsite planting day where students from Caloosa Elementary and Middle School planted vegetables in planter boxes located throughout the Wellness Education & Butterfly Garden. With the close proximity of the school to the hospital, students have a unique opportunity to utilize this garden as an outdoor classroom, where they learn early in life about ways to promote healthy habits.

The garden, designed by Johnson Engineering’s Landscape Architecture team, provides healing therapy for patients undergoing rehabilitation, while at the same time serves as a hands-on learning environment for school students to appreciate the nutritional benefits of growing your own vegetables.

This planting day helped to launch a collaborative partnership to promote community health, wellness, and well-being. Lee Memorial Health System, Johnson Engineering, the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, the American Heart Association, the School District of Lee County, Caloosa Elementary and Middle School, and local master gardeners, together made it possible to implement this entire project, from initial concept, to this rewarding event.