Finally, here in Canada spring is sprung! It's time to get outside and get our hands dirty!
Gardening is a great way to get exercise and fresh air. It's also beneficial for our mental health as it reduces stress, anxiety and depression that often comes with having dementia. For us Canadians, it rejuvenates us and lets us reconnect with nature after a long winter.
The following are some of my favourite flowers, plants and trees for sensory gardening. Keep in mind to check if any of the plants I list below are hardy for your gardening zone.
The fragrant scents of lilacs, lavender, lily of the valley, magnolia, azalea, verbena, sweet violets and sweet peas all are familiar to most and are no-brainers for the ladies. While men might prefer something a little less floral such flowering nicotiana, pine, cedar and the herbs listed below.
The herbs dill, basil, sage, thyme, rosemary, and mint are standards for sensory gardening. Each herb has such a memorable scent, it may take one back in time to a special thanksgiving dinner or the first taste a York Peppermint Pattie. Berry varieties, rhubarb, currants, gooseberries, sweet cherries, sour cherries all offer great reasons to bake a dessert and eat it too! Radishes...you either love them or hate them. They have an unforgettable zippy flavour and crunch. Ferns are not only a nice leafy green plant but they also offer you their furled youngsters called fiddleheads. Disclaimer; Fiddleheads may harbour microbes and should be washed thoroughly and cooked before eating.
The following flower petals are edible: Pansies are a pretty garnish on a dessert. Lavender can be used as a rub on a barbequed steak or to bake cookies, cakes and scones (tread lightly with measurements). Nasturtiums have a smidgen of a peppery taste and may be used in salads and stir fry.
Visual: For springtime blooms; CHERRY TREES!!! Honestly, have you ever seen any other tree as stunning as a cherry tree blossoming? Hydrangeas offer large and beautiful blooms and can't be a sight missed in a garden. For some punchy colour, add some Chinese lanterns, poppies, fuchsia. Hollyhocks are an old favourite of mine as they grow to be quite tall, come in a variety of colours and attract hummingbirds & butterflies.
Attracting animals and pretty insects create an animated and interactive environment. Give your residents opportunities by keeping a supply of peanuts to feed chipmunks and squirrels. Add some features such as bird feeders and birdhouses. Birdbaths can be very entertaining once a neighbourhood bird finds your birdbath you have put out for him. By keeping it clean and having a nearby feeder, he'll be your neighbour until it's time to hunker down for the winter.
Tactile:
I am so in love with moss right now, if you have some shady and wet areas of in the garden area, give it a go! If you're not feeling the moss thing but looking for a similar texture, try creeping thyme, it feels and looks great, especially during its flowering period.
Depending on your gardening zone, consider the highly tactile succulents. Another thought is to have a mini succulent container garden that can be placed at patio tables as an interactive centrepiece. The smooth and rubbery feel is mesmerizing.
As for flowers, you 100% MUST try blue mink and celosia, they feel just as funky as they look. Another flower that I adore is a flowering begonia, the blooms are very bright coloured and have a neat waxy feel to them.
Long tall feathery grasses such as bunny tail grass and pampas grass look and feel soft to the touch. If you have a generous space for landscaping, consider trees such as willow and paper birch.
Having a water feature is so beneficial from a therapeutic point of view. There are many kinds, big and small to suit any budget. Ponds and streams attract wildlife such as frogs and birds. Pouring water from a waterfall or the light splashes of a water fountain is incredibly fascinating and serene.
The only downfall of water features is depending on how elaborate they are, can be expensive to purchase/install if they are custom made. Additionally, they may require maintenance from time to time.
What kinds of plants do you like to grow? I'd love to hear from you, take a moment, snap a picture & let me know what you're up to in the garden this season.
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