| A sensory garden stimulates the use of the five senses. Plant material selected for therapeutic potential should provide a stimulus for enjoyment, be multipurpose in nature, have scented and interesting textural differences, provide for seasonal change and display brightly coloured flowers, fruits and foliage.
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Sight:
A well designed garden can give much visual pleasure and make a person feel relaxed and peaceful. Subtle gradations of colour are calming while bright colours will stimulate and often cheer people up. Colour contract in foliage can be appreciated by people with limited vision.
Plants selected for their flower or foliage qualities for picking are very useful too. |
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Sound:
Sounds can be used for orientation, social contact, learning and relaxation. Sounds can be introduced through running water, waterfalls and windchimes, bird attracting plants, bird baths, walking through autumn leaves, wind in the trees and other sounds heard while sitting in the garden such as sprinklers. For good garden audio, plant grasses and listen as the wind rustles through. Plants that attract bees are also great to give your sound garden a summer buzz. |
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Smell:
People with a visual impairment can benefit from fragrant and aromatic flowers, fruits, interesting leaf textures and bark as it extends their range of sensitivities. Some plants yield their foliage or flower fragrance on a gentle breeze or by the heat of the sun. Scented plants not only provide a pleasant smell when rubbed, but it also allows for plant recognition. |
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Touch:
Plants which provide interesting tactile features include: autumn leaves, seeds, plants such as lambs ears. The large shiny leaf of the magnolia grandiflora or the rough texture of borage leaves provide differing experiences. |
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Taste:
Taste is another sensation that can be stimulated through careful selection and placement of plant material. A vegetable or herb garden can promote a sense of accomplishment and confidence and can be used in cooking. |
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| Plants for a sensory garden>> |
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