Being in the garden provides us with a lot of sensual experiences that calm us down, relax, but also stimulate our fascination and interest in the world of nature.A sensory garden is one where all our senses are stimulated, where we are not only passive observers, but we can also touch, taste, hear and smell the surrounding vegetation.
This is especially important for those garden users who experience a sensory impairment or need significant stimulation to improve their he alth or develop properly.
What plants do we use in sensory gardens?The selection of species depends primarily on the basic function of the garden.A sensory garden can be part of a botanical garden, an arboretum or a part of a public park or even a school area. However, the plants proposed for direct contact planting should always be selected in accordance with the following guidelines.
- These plants must be safe, which means that no parts of them contain toxins. The most common plants used in sensory assumptions are thornless and thornless, although this need not be the rule of thumb.Plants that can scratch or sting must be applied in a thoughtful and controlled manner.
- Due to direct contact with various users, plants for sensory assumptions should be resistant to mechanical damage and regenerate quickly. These features will also play an important role in the amount of necessary maintenance work.
-Edible plants, popular and less known herbs that are used in the kitchen are a very good combination of species. Apart from influencing the sphere of smell and taste, they play an important educational role in the garden. They can be the basis for the transfer of knowledge about the origin, properties, history of uses, as well as show the purposefulness of gardening work and the close relationship between man and the plant world.
- In the case of the garden's location next to educational or care institutions, various parts of the plants can be used in nature, manual or art classes.
- One of the keys of plant compositions can be their year-round effectiveness, i.e. combinations of annual and biennial plants, perennials, trees and shrubs complementing each other with flowering periods.The variety of plantings may encourage cyclical visits to the garden.
Beauty of nature for everyone
The most important feature of plants used in sensory gardens is their ability to stimulate the senses of users.So we are talking about plants that have an interesting texture, shape, size of leaves or shoots, an interesting color or habit that can be "observed" by touch.Also plants rustling or rustling under the influence of wind or moving a hand.Herbs are widely used, which in addition to their taste, exude a pleasant aroma directly or extracted from the leaves after rubbing with your fingers. Of course, flowers have a very positive effect on the sense of smell; on this occasion, the statement can be extended with information on the use of plant fragrances.
To hear is to know
The sensory garden should also provide an opportunity to observe and familiarize yourself with the world of animals, especially birds, beneficial insects and butterflies. This can be achieved thanks to the appropriate composition of plants that attract these groups of animals. This can be a great additional attraction for young users, with didactic and sensory values, especially in the auditory sphere.
Garden without barriers, restrictions, prohibitions
The sensory garden should be a place fully accessible to all users, but above all to people with disabilities. It must comply with the principles of universal design. Therefore, the availability of plants and information about them play a special role here. The so-called raised beds or quarters, enabling direct contact with plants from a sitting and standing position, without the need to bend down.Sufficiently wide and clear communication plays an important role, with a hardened surface, especially important for people using wheelchairs or heels.
One should not forget about the number and appropriate location of rest areas, the lack of which often excludes or discourages some users.Plant boards should be placed within the sight and hand of users so that they can also be written down in Braille.
Additional information about the location in the garden or the presence of interesting specimens can be encoded in horizontal markings in the pavement or by using various materials of various shapes in retaining walls, which also constitute an additional stimulating element for visitors.
