Transcript Creating an Adaptive Garden

Creating an Enabled Garden
Bruce Dunn
Joanna Sanford
Jane Walling
What is an Enabled Garden?
Any landscape, garden, patio, or greenhouse space designed
around the needs of someone who is physically,
developmentally, or psychologically unable to tend a traditional
garden.
Types of Enabled Gardens
 Therapy
– therapist guided activities
 Healing
– retreat or place of respite
 Adaptive
– designed for accessibility
 Memory
– benefits Alzheimer and dementia patients
 Sensory
– focused on color, texture, and fragrance
Features
Directed &
programmed activities
Modified features for
accessibility & use
Well defined spaces &
perimeters
Carefully chosen plants
Support & safety
features
Our Focus:
Sensory Gardens
 Sight
 Smell
 Auditory
 Taste
 Touch
Sight
 Bright colors to show
contrast
 Well lit
 Simple transitions
 Place & plant markings
 Shapes & numbers
 Symmetry
Smell
 Herbs
Rosemary
Basil
Oregano
Mint
 Flowers
Stock
Roses
 Water & Moss
 Soil
Auditory
 Water features &
fountains
 Wind chimes
 Leaves
 Birds, frogs & insects
Taste
 Herbs
 Honeysuckle
 Fruits & vegetables
Note: use organic & avoid hazardous
chemicals. Of the senses, taste is the
one that should be on a case by case
basis due to extreme sensory conditions
Touch
 Tactile
 Fine motor skills
 Gross motor skills
 Weight
 Warm & cold
Whatever the goal of your garden, it should be a
place where people of various ages and abilities can
experience the benefits of gardening easily and safely
throughout the entire year.
Just a few of our local
Therapy Gardens
 Mattey’s Garden – Matthew
Whaley Elementary School
 Freedom Park, Williamsburg
Botanical Gardens –
Botanical Therapy Garden
 Chambrel Assisted Living
Resources
Accessible Gardening: Tips & Techniques for Seniors & the Disabled. Joann Woy. 1997,
Stackpole Press
Enabled Gardening: An Introduction (info provided by Angela Cingale, Master Gardener).
Enabling Garden: Creating Barrier-Free Gardens. Gene Rothert, HTR. 1994, Taylor
Trade Publishing
Healing Landscapes: www.healinglandscapes.org
NCState.edu – Horticulture Department. How to Organize a Community Allotment
Garden. http://cals.ncsu.edu/hort_sci/extension/documents/ag-727.pdf
UNC.edu http://rehabdesign.web.unc.edu/?projects=accessible-garden-bed-andadjustable-hanging-basket
Sensory Gardens. www.ahta.org (American Horticultural Therapy Organization).
The garden as a healer. Mark Epstein. The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce:
http://www.djc.com/special/landscape98/10037844.htm. March 31, 1998.
Van Mullekom, Kathy. Scout gives Children’s Hospital a therapy garden. Dailypress.com,
July 30, 2011.
Virginia Cooperative Extension: www.ext.vt.edu
Special thanks to Angela Cingale & Pat Crowe for their time and assistance