This study of hospital gardens demonstrates the feasibility of objective and landscape guidelines from which valid design implications can be drawn. When designing a hospital garden, these findings suggest that designers should include design features that enable the patient to sit and socialize or to relax, as well as being able to enjoy the water features and the paths around the garden. These results also provide the opportunity for health care decision makers to apply and to incorporate user considerations into overall landscape design for current and future health care programs.