On the second floor of Catholic Charities Samaritan House in Denver, two 72-foot garden beds now bring color and life to a space that once went largely unnoticed.
The space was previously filled with river rock and soil. With the help of a beautification grant from the Colorado Garden Foundation, staff saw an opportunity to transform the area into something welcoming and purposeful.
The Colorado Garden Foundation awards horticulture scholarships and grants throughout Colorado, supporting projects that promote community gardens, beautification, horticulture therapy and other horticulture-related efforts.
“We were able to award a $5,000 grant here to Catholic Charities Samaritan House for the beautiful new garden beds that they have,” said Jim Fricke executive director at the Colorado Garden Foundation. “Flowers for their people to be able to get outside and enjoy within safe areas and just get back with nature.”
The work started from the ground up. Staff and volunteers screened the existing river rock, added topsoil and compost to enrich the beds and selected approximately 120 plants suited for Colorado’s full sun and dry conditions.
As the plants took root, so did something unexpected.
Staff who regularly care for the beds—checking soil and water levels, removing weeds and picking up trash—began hearing from participants staying at Samaritan House.
Several times a week, participants stop to say thank you. They share that they walk alongside the beds, sometimes running their hands over the flowers as they go. For them, the garden offers a sensory connection to something living and growing and a chance to step away from the challenges surrounding them.
“It’s become a safe space that provides peace,” shared a Samaritan House employee.
One participant summed up the sentiment simply: “This is really a great blessing for all of us.”
What began as a beautification project has become an unexpected form of horticultural therapy. The garden provides an opportunity to slow down, engage with nature and find moments of calm—all within the safety of the Samaritan House community.
The beds also carry a special meaning for Samaritan House itself.
During Samaritan House’s 40th anniversary celebration, the newly renovated flower beds were dedicated to the volunteers who have served at Samaritan House over its 40-year history. Their countless hours of service have helped shape the shelter and the community it serves, making the garden a fitting tribute to those who have given their time and care to others.
Today, the garden is a small but meaningful part of life at Samaritan House. What was once an overlooked stretch of river rocks has become a place to pause, connect with nature and experience a little peace.
And in a place where so many people are working toward a new beginning, there is something powerful about watching a garden grow.