'International Plant Appreciation Day', April 13

🌱 International Plant Appreciation Day – April 13 🌱

International Plant Appreciation Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the beauty, importance, and benefits of plants in our everyday lives. From the flowers in our gardens to the trees in our parks and the herbs in our kitchens, plants play a vital role in supporting life, improving our environment, and boosting our wellbeing.

For people living with dementia, plants can be especially powerful. They stimulate the senses through colour, scent, and touch, and often spark memories of gardening, cooking, or time spent outdoors. Talking about favourite flowers, herbs, or green spaces can encourage conversation, connection, and reminiscence.

🎵 CST Song of the Day – “Scarborough Fair”, Simon & Garfunkel 🎵

Today’s song choice, “Scarborough Fair” by Simon & Garfunkel, beautifully links to the theme of plants through its famous line of herbs: “Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.”

The gentle melody and traditional folk roots of the song often resonate strongly with older adults, making it ideal for Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST). The mention of familiar herbs can prompt rich discussion - perhaps about cooking, gardens, favourite smells, or even visits to markets and fairs.

This song can be used to:

• Encourage reminiscence about cooking and home life

• Spark sensory conversations around smell and taste

• Prompt discussion about markets, traditions, and local fairs

• Create a calming and engaging group atmosphere

You might follow up by asking:

• Which of these herbs have you used before?

• What is your favourite smell from the garden?

• Have you ever visited a traditional fair or market?

🌿 Activity: Name Some Plants 🌿

This simple and enjoyable activity encourages participants to name as many plants as they can - flowers, trees, herbs, vegetables, or houseplants. It’s a great way to stimulate memory, language, and conversation in a relaxed and supportive setting.

Plants are a familiar part of everyday life, and thinking about them can trigger rich memories of gardens, cooking, holidays, and time spent outdoors. Even those who may struggle with recall often find success with this topic, helping to build confidence and engagement.

You can support the activity by offering gentle prompts such as:

• Flowers (e.g. rose, daffodil, tulip)

• Herbs (e.g. mint, rosemary, thyme)

• Trees (e.g. oak, apple, willow)

• Garden vegetables (e.g. carrots, potatoes, tomatoes)

This activity can be done individually or as a group, with answers written on a board or simply shared aloud. There’s no right or wrong—just encouraging participation, discussion, and enjoyment.

Follow-up ideas:

• What is your favourite plant or flower?

• Did you ever have a garden?

• Which plants remind you of home?

• What smells or colours do you like most?

A simple activity—but one that can spark meaningful memories, conversation, and connection 🌱

🌱 Activity: What Do Plants Give Us? 🌱

This engaging activity encourages participants to think about all the ways plants support our everyday lives. From the air we breathe to the food we eat, plants are essential to our survival and wellbeing.

By exploring this topic, participants can connect with familiar ideas such as gardening, cooking, nature, and home life. It’s a great way to stimulate thinking, promote conversation, and encourage shared memories in a positive and inclusive way.

You can begin by asking the group:“What do plants give us?”

Prompts might include:

• Oxygen (the air we breathe)

• Food (fruit, vegetables, herbs, grains)

• Medicine (many treatments come from plants)

• Materials (wood, paper, cotton)

• Beauty (flowers, gardens, houseplants)

• Shade and shelter (trees and green spaces)

This activity works well as a group discussion, with answers shared aloud or written down. It can also lead naturally into reminiscence about favourite meals, gardens, parks, or time spent outdoors.

Follow-up ideas:

• What is your favourite fruit or vegetable?

• Have you ever grown your own food?

• What plants do you remember from your garden or childhood?

• Do you have a favourite tree or green space?

A thoughtful and accessible activity that highlights just how important plants are in our lives, while encouraging conversation, memory, and connection 🌿

🎵 Activity: Songs About Plants – Singalong 🎵

This enjoyable singalong activity invites participants to explore and sing along to well-known songs that feature plants, flowers, and nature. Music is a powerful tool in Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), often unlocking memories, lifting mood, and encouraging participation - even for those who may struggle with conversation.

Songs about plants are especially effective as they connect to familiar themes such as gardens, seasons, love, and home life. Many of these songs are well-known and easy to join in with, helping to build confidence and create a sense of shared enjoyment.

You might include songs such as:

• “Scarborough Fair” – Simon & Garfunkel

• “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” – Peter, Paul and Mary

• “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” – Tiny Tim

• “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music

Encourage participants to sing along, clap, or simply listen and enjoy. You can pause between songs to ask gentle questions and prompt memories.

Follow-up ideas:

• Do you have a favourite song about flowers or nature?

• What flowers or plants do these songs remind you of?

• Did you use to sing any of these songs at home or school?

A relaxed and uplifting activity that brings people together through music, memory, and the shared enjoyment of familiar songs 🌸🎶