Design an outdoor escape that engages your five senses.
Imagine entering a garden that revitalizes all five of your senses.
This is what makes a sensory garden distinct in comparison to traditional outdoor spaces.
Credit:Marion Brenner
However, structuring an outdoor space to target all five senses can be a major undertaking.
Conversely, if you have a high-stress occupation, look for aromatic plants andfragrant flowersto soothe you.
She included “contrasting forms and colors of scentedrosemary(Rosmarinussp.
Credit:KINDRA CLINEFF
Planting native species will invite hungry, noise-making pollinators to your garden on a rotating basis.
Think: who will use your garden?
Anyone who is mobility impaired or whose senses may be compromised?
Injecting various hues and mixing shades, tints, and tones of each color can draw your eye in.
Seek out plant species thatsupport your local songbirdsor choose plants likeornamental grassesthat rustle in the wind.
Touch
For touch, add soft, fuzzy plants to your sensory garden.
And while slightly rough textures can be interesting to include, ensure to avoid anything that could cause injury.
Water entices sight, sound, and touch.
If you have a large backyard, perhaps afountain or a pond is a possible feature.
Smell and Taste
Edible plants and herbs are the obvious choices for smell and taste.
For example, herbs likethymeandlavendercan make beautiful garden plants that give off an enticing aroma.
And they can engage the taste buds, too.
Or tuck in somealpine strawberriesorcucamelonsthat are easy to snack on right in the garden.
Sensory Garden Design Tips
1.
Match plants to your growing conditions.
Angell advises steering clear of plants that aren’t adapted to your spaces environmental constraints, e.g.
moisture levels, sun exposure, and soil key in.
“Its important to select plants that will thrive in your space.
Enjoy the planning process rather than rushing to the end result, advises Gaines.
Above all, it’skey to research your plantsand their needs before committing to any species.
Plants are highly seasonal and will not look or act the same all year round, says Gaines.
And as you create your sensory garden, keep an open mind and experiment with different types of plants.
You may find yourself in a trial-and-error period, fine-tuning your arrangement for several seasons before finishing your design.
