ABOUT BUDS IN BLOOM
Buds in Bloom is a Forest Therapy Sanctuary in Central Ohio where people slow down and reconnect with themselves, each other, and the more-than-human world.
In a culture that asks us to move faster and produce more, we create space to pause, listen, and be present.
Forest therapy is a guided, research-informed practice that supports nervous system regulation, resilience, and wellbeing through intentional time in nature. Studies continue to show that immersive time outdoors can reduce stress, lower cortisol, improve mood, and support overall wellbeing. But beyond the science, something simpler can happen here: we remember how to pay attention. We remember that we belong.
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Founded by Michelle Ward, a certified guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and 2025 SeaChange Showcase Speaker, Buds in Bloom grew from lived experience. After multiple concussions disrupted her health and identity, Michelle found that healing did not come through force. It came through relationship: with the land, with stillness, and with her own nervous system.
That experience shaped the way this sanctuary is held. Our walks are gently structured, trauma-informed, and designed to feel safe, unhurried, and welcoming. You don't need to know anything about forest therapy to come. You simply need to arrive as you are.
Buds in Bloom is also a social enterprise rooted in conservation. We steward five acres of meadow, woodland, gardens, and growing habitats in Canal Winchester, restoring biodiversity, planting for pollinators, and protecting habitat. We believe that as our relationship with the living world deepens, so does our capacity to care for it and for one another.
Here, connection is the beginning of care.
TENDING THE BLOOM
Buds in Bloom began with listening.
In 2019, Michelle and Doug met through a shared love of the outdoors. Their partnership grew around family, exploration, and a desire to live in deeper alignment with the natural world. Shortly after the birth of their daughter, they found five acres of meadow and woodland that felt both wild and waiting.
They chose not to rush it.
Instead, they learned its seasons. They restored what had been neglected. They planted slowly. They paid attention.
During this same season, Michelle was navigating the long effects of multiple concussions. The land became a steady presence — regulating, grounding, and quietly restorative. What began as personal healing became professional calling.
Together, Doug and Michelle care for the land itself, maintaining pathways, restoring habitat, and supporting infrastructure that allows others to gather safely. Buds in Bloom is developed from Michelle’s lived experience and vision, held within a shared commitment to stewardship and family life.
Today, tending the bloom means:
• Restoring meadow and woodland ecosystems
• Holding small, intentional forest experiences
• Offering seasonal gatherings rooted in place
• Cultivating connection between people and the living world
Buds in Bloom continues to grow slowly, with care for the people who come here and the living world that makes this place home.
There is always more to tend.
Contact
We're always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
614-364-6424