A symbol of friendship and health: How Operation Geranium combats loneliness with potted Geraniums and Postcards

Operation Geranium, the brainchild of Steve Double, will be continuing this year (2023) with more brightly coloured pots of Geraniums being left on doorsteps across the Island.

The scheme was set up in May 2020 in association with Care in the Garden CIC, Wootton and Age UK Isle of Wight.

Flowers and art
As well as gifting brightly coloured pots of Geraniums – a symbol of friendship and good health – so too have been thousands of postcards carrying artwork by local artists.

Steve Double told News OnTheWight,

“Plants were nurtured with care by local people challenged by life-long disabilities, learning and support needs, who have been given the right to work and enjoy opportunities. Care In The Garden as a team, a ground breaking, progressive social community enterprise company got involved, their efforts could tackle loneliness and isolation and make a difference, to older NHS patients living at home or in residential care.”

400 plants left on doorsteps
Steve went on to explain,

“Every year in mid-May 400 plants leave the nursery at Park Road, Wootton, often collected, and delivered by green transport company, Keert, on their Cargo Bikes, on a voyage, to bring joy, and smiles to people that we care about.
“If looking after a plant, or making new friends, can get you through tough times, so also can staying safe, and sending a local Artist’s Postcard.”

More than 40,000 postcards
Steve explained that Operation Geranium worked with 11 local creatives to design and publish 40,000 free postcards (so far), widely distributed across the Island.

He says,

“The Art you have yet to discover, would really like, but never knew existed has been posted, turning kitchen white goods in far away places into 24/7 people’s art galleries.
“Creating space for art in exile all over the world, stretching beyond borders from a diamond in the sea, re-inventing non-digital communication.”