As we begin the holidays, life gets hectic. The music, decorations, and crowds can sometimes seem overwhelming, even for the jolliest holiday elves.
A big box store recently announced they were extending a pilot program of having sensory-friendly hours early each day. During this time, they will manage TV screens, radio volumes, and even lower the lights to create an inclusive shopping experience.
About the same time as this announcement, I read about a sensory garden. It took feelings and techniques I knew and put them in a different context, one that made the garden intentionally designed to be sensory-friendly.
A sensory garden engages the five senses. How this happens can be managed to meet the needs and wants of each gardener.
For example, if our days are filled with stress, the garden may be your calming escape. With this goal in mind, plant choices would veer from the hot excitement of pinks, reds, and yellows. Better choices to provide calm would be blues, purples, and whites mixed with green foliage.
Think of plant choices as falling into sensory categories, knowing that some will overlap and appeal to multiple senses, such as sight, touch, and smell.
Next, who will spend time in the garden? If the garden will have children visit (and I hope all gardens do), plant edible and fun-to-touch plants down low at their level. This might mean strawberries, lavender, or thyme.
Those with mobility issues will appreciate cement pathways and wheel-chair height-raised beds. Fragrant plants and those with textured leaves will allow visually impaired visitors to enjoy the garden.
Lambs ear and dusty miller are two plants with fuzzy and velvet leaves. As an added bonus, they are also deer-resistant.
Herbs mix among perennials to add smell. Plant basil or rosemary in the garden beds. They are tasty for kids, handy for chefs, and a draw for pollinators.
Don’t forget to draw birds to the garden. The sounds of their songs can enhance the garden experience for those with poor eyesight. Plant tall grasses, when the wind blows, the blades will rustle – creating movement and a soft sound.
Other sounds that will be part of the garden happen as the garden passes through the seasons. The leaves will drop and become crunchy in the fall, and snow will bring a soothing quiet to the garden space.
This garden, and really all gardens, are meant for enjoyment and to provide exercise and escape from hectic days. With this in mind, keep the sensory garden low maintenance. Expect it to evolve over time as the plants grow and change. If the design is not meeting your needs, don’t be afraid to add or remove plants.
A technique often used by those feeling anxious or stressed to feel more grounded is 54321. Try taking a deep breath then counting 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
Even though gardens are winding down, stepping outside when feeling overwhelmed always helps calm my senses. There is always something to see and hear in the garden. And there is always next spring to add sensory-friendly plants to the garden.