Arts in the Garden 2025 Community Event Celebrates Resilience of Individuals with Mental Health Disorders

ATLANTA, GA – Skyland Trail held its annual Arts in the Garden event on Friday, May 2, 2025, joining the community to celebrate the talents of individuals living with mental health disorders for Mental Health Awareness Month. Arts in the Garden 2025, which featured an artist market, plant sale, live performances, and animal encounters, brought together artists, community resources and providers, and Skyland Trail staff, clients, alumni, and families to create an event that represented a community that is “rooted in resilience”.

Several artists put on demonstrations of work such as pottery-throwing and basket-weaving. Vendors sold a variety of locally produced creative goods ranging from jewelry and candles to visual art prints and originals. Skyland Trail Associates members also volunteered and donated goods to make the on-site café a success. Visitors also purchased a variety of indoor and outdoor plants propagated by clients participating in horticultural therapy.

For the first time at Arts in the Garden, Skyland Trail clinical leadership faced the cold for a cause and participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge for mental health awareness. Staff members dumped ice water on the heads of participating psychiatrists, psychologists, and nurses in a show of support, igniting cheers from event-goers.

In addition to a bustling artist market and art demos, Skyland Trail welcomed on campus a petting zoo, llamas, a pony, and Happy Tails pet therapy dogs. A series of performances also highlighted the talents of clients and supporters of Skyland Trail. From spoken-word poetry to African drumming, there was always something to enjoy on stage at Arts in the Garden 2025.