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Sensory Garden
CottageGardenFlowerLady
Posts: 53
At work on a local farm I am trying to update the existing Sensory Garden. It has been left for at least the past two years while i have created a Bee Friendly Garden and a Coastal Garden. I have no garden design experience but from what I have read the Sensory Garden should have perfume, texture, visual impact and sound highlights like running water and mobiles. At the moment it has bamboo, miscanthus and some perennials plus loads and loads of artemisia rampant at ground level...oh and some cornus. Not quite sure where to start. Budget non-existent as this is a charity. Any ideas at all?
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You need plants with scented leaves such as lavendar, mint, sage, rosemary. Any of the herbs really. They release their perfume when the leaves are rubbed so you have a few of the senses catered for in one go, plus they are great for attracting insects. Mint comes in many "flavours" and you can take cuttings so easily that you will be able to plant a large area for minimal cost. Geranium macrorrhizum is great for ground cover and is evergreen, plus the leaves smell nice (though I realise that is a matter of opinion). As you have no money to spend on this project, perhaps readers of this forum would be willing to donate plants, or you could involve gardeners in your locality.
You also need to think about touch. Plants, such as lambs' ears (sorry I'm not good with proper names.), with soft hairy leaves are good. Also grasses with soft seed heads or those you can run your fingers through. These can also provide sound when moved by the wind. I'm sure others on the forum will come up with varieties.
Does the charity have employees/volunteers or users who may be able to provide plants? Who's going to look after it when it's completed?
Where are you?
Forum members in the vicinity may be able to donate spare plants.
Mint is very invasive and a herb best kept in a pot.
How cruel. Mint loves to run free.
Consider placing a bench near the scented plants, so that people can sit down and enjoy the scent and the texture of the plants.
Some edibles, too? Taste is a sense as well.
As for water features and sound, I'd suggest looking to Japanese gardens for inspiration - they have this down pat.
I have grown some quaking grass, just seeds picked from hedgerow, also Buuny grass, little fluffy cotton heads, from a packet of seeds, kindly donated from the seed swap thread.
The Stachys is lovely, also Lychnis has nice silver leaves.