Outdoor Classroom Project Plan: Materials List & Budget for Sensory

A sensory garden includes that help teach students how to use all five senses (sight, touch, taste, smell, touch) as they explore the outdoor classroom. Some plants have bright flowers or leaves to trigger a visual response, while other plants feel, taste, or smell unique. Wind chimes make a great, simple addition to the garden, but expanded sound can be incorporated into the outdoor classroom as well. Each garden should incorporate elements that engage the students with all five of their senses. ❖ Habitat Requirements:  Full sun for 6-8 hours per day for optimal growth  Near the entrance of the outdoor classroom if possible

❖ Example Sensory Garden Pictures & Educational Sign:

Lamb’s Ear is very soft to the touch. (above) Chocolate Mint tastes and smells yummy. (below)

Alabama Wildlife Federation Outdoor Learning Station Project Plan: Sensory Garden Page 1 | 4 Materials List & Budget https://www.alabamawildlife.org/oc-sensory-garden/ OC Project Plan: Example Sensory Garden Materials List & Budget

❖ Estimated Cost:  Example 4 ft x 13 ft Sensory Garden: 3-sided garden against the school building: $480

 Example 5 ft x 14 ft Sensory Garden: 4-sided garden away from school building: $600

❖ Materials & Supplies Lists with Estimated Budgets:

Example 3-sided Sensory Garden (Actual Size: 3 ft (W) x 12 ft 4 in (L) x 6 in (D) 3-sided raised bed garden against school building → ~19 CF) Learning Est. Final Materials & Supplies Source of Materials Station Cost (Donated or Purchased?) Cost https://www.lowes.com/pd/Rust-Oleum- (1) can of Landscape Marking Spray Paint (for Professional-White-Water-based-Marking- 3-Sensory laying out garden) $5 Paint-Actual-Net-Contents-15-fl- oz/3959183

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Panacea-Products- 3-Sensory Twine – 40’ (for laying out garden) $5 200-ft-Tan-Jute-Twine/1000487183

Garden Stakes or Flags (for laying out garden) https://www.lowes.com/pd/Presco-25- 3-Sensory $5 Pack-15-in-Pink-PVC-Marking- Flag/1036999 (40) 4” x 12” Retaining Wall Blocks (to create three sides $115 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Olde-Manor- 3-Sensory Ashland-Retaining-Wall-Block-Common-4- of raised bed against school building) total in-x-12-in-Actual-3-5-in-x-11-5-in/4686337 (1) 4’x50’ Roll Landscape Fabric (weed barrier) https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sta-Green- 3-Sensory $30 Professional-Landscape-Fabric-Common-4- ft-x-50-ft-Actual-4-ft-x-50-ft/50121885 (3) 1.7 CF/50 Qt Bags of Moisture Control Potting $45 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Miracle-Gro- 3-Sensory Moisture-Control-50-Quart-Potting-Soil- Soil total Mix/1000042431 (8) 1 CF/32 Qt Bags of Organic Top Soil $15 3-Sensory https://www.lowes.com/pd/Evergreen-1- total cu-ft-Organic-Top-Soil/999911449 (2) 1 CF/32 Qt Bags of Cow Manure (save a small scoop $10 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Black-Kow-1- 3-Sensory cu-ft-Organic--and- for puddling stations) total Manure/1000875388 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sphagnum- 3-Sensory (1/3) 3 CF Bag of Peat Moss (expands to 6CF) $15 Peat-Moss-3-cu-ft-Organic-Peat-Moss- Moisture-Control/50339650 (16) Sensory Plants (4 different species (one per sense), 4 $80 3-Sensory Nursery via OC Consultant plants per species – see list below) total (1) Set of Wind Chimes https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden- 3-Sensory $10 Treasures-19-25-in-Multi-Color-Metal- Wind-Chime/1000174655 (1) Shepherd’s Hook for Chimes https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden- 3-Sensory $10 Accents-64-in-Steel-Painted-Metal- Shepherd-s-Hook/3342786

(1) Package of 40 6” Black Plastic Landscape Edging https://www.lowes.com/pd/Greenscapes- 3-Sensory Pieces (create (3) 3 ft dividers between the four plant species to $15 40-Pack-Black-Plastic-Landscape-Edging- Section/3685034 make plant ID & weeding easier)

(2) 2 CF Bags of Pine Bark Mulch $5 https://www.lowes.com/pd/3-cu-ft-Brown- 3-Sensory total Pine-Bark-Nuggets/304733

Alabama Wildlife Federation Outdoor Learning Station Project Plan: Sensory Garden Page 2 | 4 Materials List & Budget https://www.alabamawildlife.org/oc-sensory-garden/ OC Project Plan: Example Sensory Garden Materials List & Budget

❖ Materials & Supplies with Estimated Budget (cont.)

(4) Plant ID Signs (one for each plant species) $20 3-Sensory AWF OC Consultant total

3-Sensory Educational Sign (explain how senses are engaged) $70 https://www.alabamawildlife.org/oc-signs/

(1) 4” x 4” x 8’ treated lumber (for mounting educational https://www.lowes.com/pd/Severe- Weather-Common-4-in-x-4-in-x-8-ft- 3-Sensory sign on 6’ post & Plant ID signs on (4) 6” posts) $15 Actual-3-5-in-x-3-5-in-x-8-ft-2-Treated- Lumber/50121083 (1) 50-lb Bag Fast Setting Concrete Mix $5 https://www.lowes.com/pd/QUIKRETE-50- 3-Sensory lb-Fast-Setting-Concrete-Mix/3006121 (1) Bag of 2-in Deck Screws (to attach signs) https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-8-x-2- 3-Sensory $5 in-Ceramic-Deck-Screws-50- Count/999994994 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $480

Example 4-sided Sensory Garden (Actual Size: 4 ft 8 in (W) x 13 ft 8 in (L) x 6” (D) 4-sided raised bed garden → ~20 CF) Learning Est. Final Materials & Supplies Source of Materials Station Cost (Donated or Purchased?) Cost (1) can of Landscape Marking Spray Paint https://www.lowes.com/pd/Rust-Oleum- Professional-White-Water-based-Marking- 4-Sensory $5 Paint-Actual-Net-Contents-15-fl- oz/3959183

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Panacea-Products- 4-Sensory Twine – 40’ (for laying out garden) $5 200-ft-Tan-Jute-Twine/1000487183 Garden Stakes or Flags (for laying out garden) https://www.lowes.com/pd/Presco-25- 4-Sensory $5 Pack-15-in-Pink-PVC-Marking- Flag/1036999 (70) 4” x 12” Retaining Wall Blocks $200 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Flagstone- 4-Sensory Ashland-Retaining-Wall-Block-Common-4- total in-x-11-in-Actual-4-in-x-11-2-in/4686351 (1) 6’ x 50’ Roll Landscape Fabric (weed barrier) https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sta-Green- 4-Sensory $30 Professional-Landscape-Fabric-Common-4- ft-x-50-ft-Actual-4-ft-x-50-ft/50121885 (4) 1.7 CF/50 Qt Bags of Moisture Control Potting $60 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Miracle-Gro- 4-Sensory Moisture-Control-50-Quart-Potting-Soil- Soil total Mix/1000042431

(9) 1 CF/32 Qt Bags of Organic Top Soil $15 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Evergreen-1- 4-Sensory total cu-ft-Organic-Top-Soil/999911449

$10 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Black-Kow-1-cu-ft- 4-Sensory (2) 1 CF/32 Qt Bags of Cow Manure total Organic-Compost-and-Manure/1000875388 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sphagnum- 4-Sensory (1/3) 3 CF Bag of Peat Moss (expands to 6CF) $15 Peat-Moss-3-cu-ft-Organic-Peat-Moss- Moisture-Control/50339650 (20) Sensory Plants (4 different species (one per $100 Nursery via OC 4-Sensory sense), 5 plants per species – see list below) total Consultant

Alabama Wildlife Federation Outdoor Learning Station Project Plan: Sensory Garden Page 3 | 4 Materials List & Budget https://www.alabamawildlife.org/oc-sensory-garden/ OC Project Plan: Example Sensory Garden Materials List & Budget

❖ Materials & Supplies with Estimated Budget (cont.) (1) Set of Wind Chimes https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden- 4-Sensory $10 Treasures-19-25-in-Multi-Color-Metal- Wind-Chime/1000174655 (1) Shepherd’s Hook for Chimes https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden- 4-Sensory $10 Accents-64-in-Steel-Painted-Metal- Shepherd-s-Hook/3342786

(1) Package of 40 6” Black Plastic Landscape https://www.lowes.com/pd/Greenscapes- 4-Sensory Edging Pieces (create (3) 3 ft dividers between the four plant $15 40-Pack-Black-Plastic-Landscape-Edging- Section/3685034 species to make plant ID & weeding easier) (2) 2 CF Bag of Pine Bark Mulch https://www.lowes.com/pd/3-cu-ft-Brown- 4-Sensory $5 Pine-Bark-Nuggets/3047337 (4) Plant ID Signs (one for each plant species) $20 4-Sensory AWF OC Consultant total 4-Sensory Educational Sign (explaining how senses are engaged) $70 https://www.alabamawildlife.org/oc-signs/

(1) 4” x 4” x 8’ treated lumber (for mounting educational https://www.lowes.com/pd/Severe- Weather-Common-4-in-x-4-in-x-8-ft- 4-Sensory sign on 6’ post & Plant ID signs on (4) 6” posts) $15 Actual-3-5-in-x-3-5-in-x-8-ft-2-Treated- Lumber/50121083 (1) 50-lb Bag Fast Setting Concrete Mix $5 https://www.lowes.com/pd/QUIKRETE-50- 4-Sensory lb-Fast-Setting-Concrete-Mix/3006121 (1) Bag of 2-in Deck Screws (to attach signs) https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-8-x-2- 4-Sensory $5 in-Ceramic-Deck-Screws-50- Count/999994994 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $600

❖ Sensory Plant Suggestions:  Customized plant identification signs with unique scannable QR Codes linked to webpages on AWF's website are available for the bolded species below. The webpages provide specific information about that plant species including a description of the plant, photos of the plant, maintenance tips, and the ecological benefits that species provides. Plant species marked with an asterisk* are recommended for a sensory garden.

Sight Clover Bleeding Heart Narrowleaf Sunflower Stokes Aster Pink Muhly Grass Oxeye Daisy Dense Blazing Star Eastern Red Columbine Taste Chocolate cosmos Pineapple Sage *Spearmint Wild Strawberry Swiss Chard Lettuces Chives Arugula Touch *Lamb’s Ear (*only need 1) Feather Grass Maidenhair Fern Sensitive Plant Silver Mound Sphagnum Moss *Autumn Joy Sedum Fountain Grass Smell *Rosemary (*only need 1) *Lavender Lemon Balm Orange Mint Creeping Phlox Patchouli Lemon Verbena Lilac

Alabama Wildlife Federation Outdoor Learning Station Project Plan: Page 4 | 4 alabamawildlife.org/outdoor-classroom-sensory-garden/