How to Create a Sensory Garden
Over the past year, gardening and various forms of mindfulness have received more and more attention thanks to (wait) the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, for many people, gardening is itself a form of mindfulness , giving them the opportunity to pause everything else and focus on what is happening in their garden here and now. If you want to take this concept to the next level, you might be interested in creating a sensory garden. Here’s what it is and how to do it.
What is a sensory garden?
Basically, a sensory garden is exactly what it looks like: a garden designed to be perceived using all five senses (touch, smell, taste, sound, and sight). There is no single “formula” for a sensory garden – it’s all about adding specific features to a new or existing garden to fully engage anyone who visits it, providing them with an immersive experience.
How to create a sensory garden
Here are some suggestions for garden sensory functions, courtesy of Holly Crossley of Garnding Etc :
Place a scented plant at the entry point
Whether it’s a doorway, the beginning of a trail, or part of a balcony, plant something with the scent you like. Crossley suggests lavender or nepeta (also known as catnip). In this way, your brain and body receive an immediate signal that you are entering another space.
Install water feature
It’s not as scary (or expensive) as it sounds – just find a container that is sized to fit your garden. Or if your garden has a balcony, it could be a simple bowl of water. This is why Crossly believes the water feature is worth it:
The water sparkles throughout the plot, reflecting the midday sun, welcoming dragonflies, frogs and other wild animals, it is refreshingly cool to the touch, and the gentle splashes of a bird entering the water will undoubtedly calm everyone.
Plant herbs you can harvest and taste
At the right time of the year, create a small “tasting section” in your garden full of herbs such as mint, garlic, basil, and spearmint. Then, when you visit that part of your garden, you can break the leaf and chew on it to get the scent (ideally after rinsing a little).
Add some stachis
More commonly known as lamb’s ear, this velvety-soft plant is a great way to make your sensory garden more practical. “They have a beautiful silvery hue and often have purple or white flowers in the summer,” Crossley writes. “Place them around a seating area or along a walkway for a soothing touch, literally.”
Make a place to sit and take it all in
Depending on the size of your garden, you might want to consider adding a bench or chair if possible. This will give you and your guests a place to sit, calm down, and listen to the sounds around you (or lack thereof).
It is also a place where you can take a break from whatever you do, sit down and take a good look at everything that happens in your garden. Crossley recommends placing a bench or chair in the shade and adding a pillow.