Sensory Garden

Sensory gardens expand our connection to nature past what can be seen– inviting engagement through all of the senses, including touch, taste, sound and smell. Whether encouraging you to listen to leaves rustle in the breeze, to savor the sweet taste of a sun-warmed golden currant, or to breathe in the heady scent of a blooming sandcherry, these are richly engaging spaces that ground you in your body and in nature.

Creating a successful sensory garden requires consideration of how plants and other features will stimulate different senses throughout the year. Include plants with distinctive textures, like the tufty flowers of Prairie Smoke geum, smooth agave leaves, and rough tree bark. Aromatic herbs and flowers provide fragrances that intensify at different times of day (or night). Rustling grasses and water features contribute auditory elements, while edible plants like berries and herbs add opportunities for taste.

Sensory gardens are distinguished by their focus on sensory engagement and accessibility— they are to be enjoyed by everyone, including those who have diverse sensory processing capabilities. The sensory approach is particularly valuable for therapeutic use and for kids, providing a setting that encourages being present, interacting with nature, and using the body in ways that respect individual physical abilities and needs.

Sensory gardens can be styled in any way, from contemporary to naturalistic, and can complement other functional garden goals like providing habitat or using a xeric planting scheme.