In honor of Dr. Robert L.A. Keeley and Steve Buschor, volunteers, and staff from Carilion Clinic and Roanoke Parks and Recreation worked together to landscape the Dr. Robert L.A. Keeley Healing Garden. Located along the Roanoke River Greenway beside Carilion Clinic Memorial Hospital in downtown Roanoke, the healing garden is a secluded park with benches and a swing overlooking the Roanoke River. Surrounded by aromatic plants, such as rosemary, thyme and butterfly bushes, the garden was designed to be a quiet place of peace and refuge for patients and their loved ones.
On May 19, 2017, 30 new perennials were planted in the garden, giving it new life and a splash of color, including:
- Erysimum Glow Golden, a golden glow wallflower with honey-scented flowers
- Gaura Belleza Dark Pink, a long-blooming and nectar-rich plant that attract butterflies (Pictured above)
- Salvia Nemorosa Sensation Sky Blue, a fast-growing perennial with bright lavender-blue floral spikes that attract butterflies and hummingbirds
Dr. Keeley was a highly regarded thoracic surgeon in Roanoke who played a pivotal role in establishing Carilion’s Healing Arts Program. Steve Buschor was the Director of Roanoke Parks and Recreation for nearly 15 years and a passionate public servant. Both men positively impacted the lives of so many in Roanoke, which is why the garden cleanup was organized in their honor.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who assisted in landscaping the Healing Garden, including Dan Keeley, John Keeley, Kathy Sibley, Erin Casey from Carilion Community Outreach, Katie Biddle from the Healing Arts Program, Shirley Holland from Carilion Community Outreach, and Edie Naughton. Marilyn Argobast, Suzanne Popper, Jordan Powzer, Darren Little, and Jamie Mason from Roanoke Parks and Recreation offered the volunteers guidance and landscaping assistance.
