Sensory Beds

Planting for Everyone

Sensory are spaces of inclusion. They are planted with the intention to provide experiences and stimulation for all abilities. Creative use of and space can bring a variety of color, texture, smell, and sound into the garden.

Depending on space available, raised beds can allow for easy access to plants and . Raised beds can be built several feet high to be accessed from a seated position, and can also be built an open air base to allow for to roll under (both plans and structures to order can be found with a quick search online). Potted gardens can provide similar elements, and have the additional benefit of being mobile, though pots may need to be brought inside or buried for the winter months.

Change over Time

As with all gardens, your sensory gardens will change through the seasons. Plan for interesting sensory experiences such as noisy seed pods, crunching leaves in the fall, and extra bird song in the spring.

Consider Growing for Each Sense

Sight:

Vegetables with surprising colors such as: Chioggia beets, rainbow chard, lemon cucumber, Nash’s red kale, rainbow carrots, Bronze fennel, Paloma eggplant, and Green zebra or Blue berries tomato.

Bright flowers, but also plants with bright and unique foliage: amaranth, dark varieties of sweet potato vine, black mondo grass, Tradescantia (T. pallida), and begonia ‘escargot’

Plants with different growing habits (creepers, climbers, bushes, and upright plants) such as sweet potato vine, sunflower, nasturtium, morning glories, honeysuckle, peas and beans, and Joe Pye Weed.

Smell:

Herbs are relatively inexpensive and include varieties of thyme, mint, rosemary, sage, basil, oregano, fennel, lemon balm, chamomile, mint, scented geranium, and lavender.

Massachusetts Horticultural Society · 900 Washington Street · Wellesley, MA 02482 · www.MassHort.org

Sound:

Plants that attract buzzing bees such as mountain mint and beebalm, ornamental grasses which make noise in the wind, and include plantings and boxes which welcome songbirds to perch and nest.

Taste:

There are many plants which you can grow to get a high enough yield for regular sampling: thyme, mint, chives, and nasturtium; and less so for radish, cherry tomato, basil, and strawberry.

Touch:

Plants with interesting textures include lamb’s ear, mullein, dinosaur kale, corkscrew vine, celosia, and strawflower, cotton, and different mosses that can be soft to the touch grow in shade.

Water Elements

Add additional places to play, look for wildlife and fish, feel the cool and wet water and stones, and offer a different set of sounds to observe. Water elements can be costly and require regular maintenance.

Seating

Be sure to have different seating options. Sensory gardens are wonderful places to learn and explore but they are also therapeutic places that offer space for quiet reflection and calming exercises.

Founded in 1829, Massachusetts Horticultural Society is dedicated to encouraging the science and practice of and to developing the public's enjoyment, appreciation, and understanding of plants and the environment. Located in the historic Elm Bank Reservation, The Gardens at Elm Bank provides a place where people of all backgrounds can come together for inspiration and education.

Mass Hort’s public gardens are a place of beauty, discovery, quiet reflection, and appreciation of . Massachusetts Horticultural Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Please visit MassHort.org to learn more about its mission and educational programs including: the Mass Hort