BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP, Pa. — On St. Luke’s Anderson Campus sits 50 acres of sunflowers open to the community.
Behind the busy parking lot is a place of peace and tranquility.
“I’ve seen the yellow slowly pop up I think now it’s just a carpet of brilliant yellow,” said Dr. Kara B. Mascitti the Chief Wellness Officer.
A place where nature offers a break from a campus that always seems to be buzzing. The 50 acres of sunflowers offering a place for patients, employees and the community to take a breath.
“Every day I drive home, because I work from 7pm to 7am, I can see them. They’re beautiful. It just brightens your day,” said Marie Sedlock who was enjoying the flowers with Marcy Rice.
“There’s all different age groups. Wonderful. It’s beautiful,” said Rice.
For some, visiting is an annual tradition.
“Baby albums, wedding albums, Christmas cards. So I think that’s so exciting to really see that it becomes integrated in people’s everyday lives,” said Mascitti.
It is also a place that welcomes all generations.
We met Addison, Abby, and Winner who say they visit annually and like to spend quality time at the sunflower field.
“We are going to take a little walk and take some photos,” they told us. “It may brighten your day, seeing something beautiful. You can be with everyone you love.”
The impact of the fields goes beyond what’s captured through a camera.
“Just kind of helps you gain perspective, take a little bit of a break. I think it allows for connection with others,” said Mascitti.
Mascitti has seen the benefits firsthand.
“You know, a hospital is a place that we often think about treating a problem or a disease process. But I think this landscape really allows us to think about holistic health,” she said.
“It really has become this little ecosystem that really offers, you know, great benefit to our community.”