Franciscan Manor opened last summer in Patterson, showing how a model assisted-living facility could be created from a former mansion turned monastery.

But one portion remained empty and unfinished - a 21-by-31 foot, all-glass structure.

Today, that building is filled, with plants and often with people - residents discovering or rediscovering an affinity for flowers and other types of plants. Franciscan Manor's conservatory houses bedding plants, perennials and herbs such as basil, oregano and chives.

Residents help with the planting or transplanting of vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cabbage and spinach.

Some are members of the facility's Garden Club, which meets two or three times a week. Others just stop by to enjoy the foliage.

"It gets them out of their living quarters, into a sunshiny place and warmth," said activities assistant Pam Johnston.

For some, the conservatory brings back memories.

"I like to see the plants growing," said Lillian Arnholt, who added that she enjoys plants like the ones she grew at home - geraniums, irises, gladioli and pansies.

"I had a big garden at home. I like it here very much,: said Pauline Peterson, who has been a resident for about a year.

Others like Helen Troutman didn't have a garden at home, but still enjoys the greenery. Lillian Marcus said it was all new to her. She was raised in the city and had no garden.

"I've learned a lot about plants. We come in here and plant seeds. It's a lot of fun," she said.

According to social director Joan Kelly, the conservatory is part of the Life Enrichment Program, which includes leisure, social and intellectual activities. She is planning to organize flower shows around the holidays and perhaps invite the public. She said that many members of the community have expressed an interest in working as volunteers.

"We have a vigorous volunteer program to begin with," she said.

The conservatory has already been part of the facility's community outreach. Last fall, staff and residents under the guidance of full-time horticulturist Steve Cox began to decorate the conservatory with various plants and flowers.

By Christmas time, it featured 112 poinsettias, which were distributed within the community. At Easter time, 200 lilies were donated to local churches.

Kelly said being around plants seems to have the same effect on residents as the facility's musical program.

"It's very relaxing." she said.

That was part of the plan, said Scott Gordon, president of Gordon Health Ventures, which owns Franciscan Manor and several other personal-care facilities in the Pittsburgh area.

"We thought it would be a very therapeutic program," he said.

The conservatory was designed by Mike Axtell, who then worked for British Conservatories, a multinational company with an office in Reading. Axtell's other clients include Britain's Prince Charles, billionaire Richard Branson, the prince of Kuwait and Carol Thatcher, daughter of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

British Conservatories makes conservatories following designs based on those of 19th century English architects John Nash and Joseph Paxton.

Its early products were made with wooden frameworks imported from England.

"Clients loved the look, but it was not conducive to the weather in the United States," said Jani Wolf, marketing and financial director of British Conservatories.

Today, the company uses a welded aluminum frame, which is insulated throughout. The frame is then covered with a

high-density compound material that is molded to look like wood but insulates better," Wolf said.

Gordon thought an English-style conservatory would be a perfect feature for the 17-1/2 acre Franciscan Manor, which was built in 1905 as Frederick Beegle's home. The estate became known as Heath Mansion after his wife, Nellie's, maiden name. then, it took in 800 acres, including what is now Bradys Run Park. The conservatory, which cost $211,000, was built on the site where the Beegles' greenhouse used to be.

In 1965, the priests of a Croatian Franciscan monastery bought the estate and remained there for 30 years. The manor is named after them. In 1996, Gordon bought the estate and restored the mansion to accommodate an assisted-living facility with 80 private and 20 semi-private suites.

Kelly said Franciscan Manor staff try to encourage residents to remain as independent as possible.

Though some may need assistance with everyday activities, staff members try to encourage decision-making in all aspects of life.

The dining room is restaurant style, giving residents the opportunity to make choices about what to have for dinner or dessert.

"It's a matter of still giving them a choice in what seems to be to us little things." Kelly said.

The conservatory appears to be an extension of that philosophy, another way for residents to enrich their lives.

"A lot of our plants come from residents," said Cox, who noted that residents are now planning to grow a garden on a plot outside the conservatory.

Trudy Gray is a free-lance writer

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