Creating a sensory garden

Time Allocation: 45 mins *

Activity Level: Moderate

Introduction

A sensory garden is a garden that invites users to engage with the plants and other features in the space in a way that stimulates all the senses. Choosing suitable and safe plants is important as sensory gardens encourage users to touch, smell and even taste the plants as they participate in the garden space. When planning this activity, it is important to:

  • get help from others such as your local nursery, environment group or Landcare group to plan your site
  • prepare your site well
  • consider how all five senses will be engaged.

In this activity, we suggest that the space is prepared and materials and plants are purchased independently, however you may like to involve your learners in all aspects of the planning, design and planting of this activity. For hints and tips on this process, refer to the Creating a food garden activity series. You will also need to source plants prior to planting out your garden. Your local nursery, garden centre or Landcare group will be able to help give you some ideas about what will grow well in your area. Choose hardy plants that can cope with handling but that also have a sensory benefit, for example:

  • long grasses that sway in the wind
  • herbs and edible plants that are fragrant such as rosemary, mint and lavender
  • plants with different surfaces, such as borage
  • plants with a variety of different shapes and foliage colours
  • a variety of nectar producing plants that will attract birds and butterflies to your garden.

* This is dependent on the scale of your garden having the preparation of your garden site completed prior to beginning.

Checklist

  • Completed background research
  • Site prepared and materials and plants purchased
  • Prepared mystery bags (10 X paper bags, filled with different textured and aromatic items such as rough bark, mint, lavender, etc., marked 1-10 on the outside of the paper bag)
  • Hats, sunscreen and insect repellent
  • First aid kit and allergy plans
  • Protective footwear and weather appropriate attire
  • Pencils and paper
  • Printed activity sheet

    • Instructions

    Step 1

    Engage

    Explain that today you will be planting out a sensory garden and that sensory gardens allow users to engage all their senses.

    This may include:

    • sight e.g. observing the changes in the colour of flowers or foliage
    • sound e.g. the sound of feet walking on gravel, the splashing of a water feature or the sound of foliage in the wind
    • touch e.g. the texture of leaves, soil, bark and other elements
    • smell e.g. the aroma from flowers, herbs or leaves
    • taste e.g. the taste of edible leaves, flowers and fruit.
    Step 2

    Explore

    Discuss how important sight is and how much we rely upon it. Explain that because sight is a common way of observing a garden, we will be doing an activity that will encourage you to use other senses to make identifications.

    Hand out the mystery bags and the activity sheets.

    Ask learners to get into pairs or groups of 3.

    Use the mystery bags and the activity sheets to engage senses other than sight.

    Upon conclusion, discuss what senses were used to identify the contents and how the contents of the bag could be used in a sensory garden.

    Step 3

    Plant

    Head outside.

    You will need to obtain plants for your sensory garden. These can be started from seed, grown from cuttings, or purchased as mature plants.

    Consider purchasing some mature plants that will help make the garden feel more complete.

    When planting seedlings, space them in their pots out on top of the soil, check the label, and see that you have spaced them correctly with a ruler.

    When you plant for colour, plant them in clumps so that they create blocks of colour.

    Assign tasks for each participant and model how to perform each task such as planting and watering.

     

    Step 4

    Care and Evaluate

    Ensure that your plants have follow-up watering, especially if the weather is warm (and over school holiday periods).

    As a group, move through the garden space and discuss how each of the senses can be engaged by the various elements.

    Consider if there are improvements that can be made to increase the amount of sensory participation.

    Make a plan to improve the sensory experience with additional planting and other elements, such as:

    • water features
    • fountains
    • wind chimes
    • stained glass and mirror walls
    • freestanding rocks
    • play sculptures.

    Extension Activity

    Signage: Make signage to help participants engage with the space, including how to safely touch smell and taste the plants.

    Pick and dry the fragrant flowers and leaves from the sensory garden to make a potpourri or dry and press the flowers to use in craft activities.