How To Create A Sensory Garden

A sensory garden is one that is designed to engage with all five of our senses. Generally when planning a flower bed we think about colors and how they will look. Then we may want to choose fragrant varieties to add the sense of smell. Often we will stop there and ignore the other three senses of sound, touch and taste which complete the five elements of a sensory garden. This article by Marianne Lipanovich which I found on the Houzz website shows how you can create your own sensory space.

The concept of a sensory garden may have gotten its start as a way to open up gardening to those with special needs, but it turns out that a garden that appeals to all five of our senses is pleasurable for everyone. Creating your own sensory garden, whether you incorporate your entire yard or just carve out a separate space, allows you to enjoy its benefits anytime you want.

Peter Reader Landscapes

Many of the plants that are recommended for a sensory garden also work well in a variety of landscape designs. Some can even do double duty. Ornamental grasses appeal to your senses of hearing and touch. Edibles are often bright and, of course, they appeal to your sense of taste. Some flowers are bright, fragrant and edible. And then there?s the sunflower?s bright color and edible seeds that bring birds, and their accompanying song, into the garden.
When choosing plants for your landscape, look for those that appeal to a number of your senses.

Gardens by Gabriel, Inc.

Foliage colors and shapes add variety to a water-wise garden.
1. A Sight to See
The primary sense that a garden engages is sight. Flowering plants are the obvious jumping-off point, thanks to the almost endless range of colors you can find in annuals, perennials, flowering shrubs and bushes.
Look at foliage as another way to add a visual element to your garden. Succulents in particular can provide a broad range of colors, from shades of green to blues, yellows and oranges. Many shade-loving perennials are also known for their bright foliage.