For me, the smell and taste of chives brings up one of my first memories. As a toddler, I would walk around my parent’s vegetable garden and happily munch on a chive that my father handed me as he scanned the garden for ingredients to use in our dinner. The smell of a tomato vine brings me back to when I would visit my grandparents and was asked to go harvest a few tomatoes for the salad we were going to have for lunch.  The sound of wind moving through trees, or a slow-moving creek reminds me of time spent playing in a forest, completely carefree.

A sensory garden can be any size and can be created all at once or in stages.  Let’s explore the different senses and what we can add to our gardens to create a unique sensory experience.    

Taste

Herbs can be started from seed or purchased as mature plants and can be grown in either your garden or in a pot.  Here are a few examples of plants that will bring taste into your garden space. 

Herbs: Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Mint, Oregano, Cilantro

Vegetables: Carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, spinach, kale, squash, radish

Touch

Focus on different textures that you can incorporate into your space.    

• Lambs Ears: a favorite among children

• Succulents: these can be kept in pots or grown in your garden (some are Minnesota hardy!)

• Feathered Grasses: run your fingers through the grasses as you walk through your garden

• Spongy Moss: resilient, unique texture 

• Tree Bark: smooth, peeling or textured 

• Smooth Rocks: stepping stones 

• Tactile Elements: pots, planters, ornaments 

Smell

Some plants give off a beautiful fragrance when the wind comes through or when you brush past them on a walk.  Even something as simple as fresh cut grass can be counted as an element within this sense. 

• Lavender: the aroma can help soothe and decrease stress – it is also a great pollinator 

• Herb garden: rosemary, mint, basil, and many others can produce a scent when you rub your hands over the leaves

• Creeping Thyme:  you can release the scent of this plant either by rubbing the leaves between your fingers or by stepping on them as they are often used as a ground cover plant 

Sight

One of the greatest rewards in gardening is being able to sit back and observe a space that you’ve created.  There are several ways to bring your garden alive that can be enjoyed through each season.  

Spring & Summer

• Different types of bird food and feeders will attract a variety of birds

• A bird bath or water source with the sound of running water will attract birds 

• Milkweed will attract Monarch Butterflies to your yard and if you’re lucky, they will lay eggs on this plant.  Some other plants that attract Monarch Butterflies include: Goldenrod, Butterfly Bush, Cosmos, Lantana, Lilac, Zinnia, Asters, Purple Coneflower, Yarrow and Coreopsis 

• Plant climbing plants over arbors and trellises 

• Include plants with different textures and variegation

• Incorporate a bench to observe your garden 

Fall & Winter

• Some native grasses, like Little Blue Stem, will move from green to blue in the summer and then to red in the fall 

• Burning Bush is another plant that will signal the changing season, becoming a vibrant red in fall 

• As the days get shorter, Autumn Joy Sedum will bring a rosy, pink shade into your garden 

• Enjoy the bright red branches of a Dogwood shrub throughout the cold, gray winter months

• If you have hydrangeas that bloom on new growth, consider leaving their stems and flowers intact throughout the winter for additional winter interest 

Sound

Sound can be added or attracted to your garden.

• Water Feature: this will create the sound of water and will also attract birds looking for a place to get a drink and to splash in a bath 

• Beneficial Insects: planting pollinator plants will attract busy buzzing bees as well as other pollinators throughout growing season  

• Ornamental Grasses: wind will move through the grass creating movement and a soothing sound

• Bird Feeders: attract songbirds by offering a variety of seed mixtures 

• Gravel Paths: listen to the crunch of the gravel as you walk the path through your garden 

• Wind Chimes: add a windchime to your garden to create a beautiful tune as a summer breeze blows through 

The benefits of creating a sensory garden go far beyond simple enjoyment.  These gardens are good for sensory stimulation and development, have calming effects, encourage curiosity and allow for reflection and stress reduction.  As Master Gardeners we look for ways to engage with our community and their love of gardening.  Master Gardeners have created a program called “Growing Connections” that works hand in hand with the Alzheimer’s Association and focuses on sensory gardening activities. Check out our website for information about Master Gardener events and programs.

Photo Credit: University of Minnesota Extension (1,2,3)