How to Choose Plants for a Child's Sensory Garden
A sensory garden allows visitors the opportunity to experience a wide range of smells, tastes and visual effects. For children, a visit to a well-constructed sensory garden induces an educational experience along with providing a trip filled with colorful delights. When selecting plants for the garden, a number steps regarding color, fragrance and human allergies apply. Additionally, the selection of plants contained in a sensory garden relies heavily on both individual tastes and overall gardening experience. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Create a plan. Grab a writing pen and writing tablet to create an outline for the child's sensory garden. Develop a list of ideas that indicate the overall layout of the garden, while choosing the particular visual effects, smells and tastes contained in the garden area. In addition, seek the advice of a garden professional to gain insight into sensory garden design.
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Pick a color. The flowers selected for the garden play an essential role in the visual effect children experience when walking through the sensory garden. Choose a plant with a specific color that will lend both uniqueness and the opportunity for learning to school-age visitors. In addition, study the bloom cycles of the selected plant to maximize the child's garden experience.
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Consult with a professional. Although the design of a sensory garden depends on individual tastes, call or contact a garden professional to gain insight into bloom cycles, color specifics and care information. In addition, ask a professional to recommend any literature that specifically covers the visual effects of flowers, along with details regarding textures, scents and soil requirements.
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Choose a particular fragrance or scent for young visitors to the sensory garden. For example, choose the pleasant fragrance of the Hong Kong style rose, a derivative of the China rose family, which is pleasing to both adult and child alike. In addition, gather samples of the selected flower to present to a son or daughter to ensure suitability.
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Read a book or visit a web page outlining child plant allergies. Avoid the use of spore producing plants or plants classified as poisonous. When designing the garden, be sure to secure a bee sting or allergy kit for emergency use during children's visits.
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Tips & Warnings
The plants listed above are just a few suggestions. Have fun experimenting on your own. Go to your local gardening center and explore what they have to offer.
Educate your children about the unpleasant sensory experiences that plants can provide as well. (Poison Ivy, thorns, poisonous berries, and so on).
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
