The document provides an update on the project to develop sensory gardens at the Oklahoma State University Botanical Gardens. It outlines a 3-year timeline that includes design and implementation phases, workshops, and factsheets. The sensory gardens will feature raised beds, hardscape, and interpretive signage to create spaces for sight, smell, touch, taste and sound for visitors of all abilities."
1. OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY BOTANIC GARDENS
SENSORY GARDENS
Project Update
July 31, 2009
Oklahoma Developmental Disability Council
Oklahoma Cit OK
Okl h City,
Michael Schnelle Michael Holmes
Professor and Extension Specialist
p Assistant Professor
Ornamental Horticulture Landscape Architecture
OK State University OK State University
2. Project Timeline
Year One
Seeking Input --- “listening to the experts”
Design
g
Implementation (Phase 1)
Year Two
Implementation (Phase 2)
Year Three
Workshop “Train the Trainer”
Factsheets
Looking Ahead
On-going Educational Programs
6. UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
• Faculty and staff in the
Department of Horticulture and
D t t f H ti lt d
Landscape Architecture have a
unique blend of interests/
backgrounds that favor
horticultural therapy projects
• ODDC personnel recognized
our faculty/staff’s past
successes via horticultural
therapy workshops and related
endeavors
7. HORTICULTURE AND
L.A.
L A OUTREACH/
EDUCATION
• Horticultural therapy workshops
• Youth-oriented events
• General public
8. WHAT IS A SENSORY
GARDEN?
• Plants and other design elements are
selected with intention to provide
p
experiences for seeing, smelling, hearing,
touching, and tasting
• Regardless of the designer’s
g g
interpretation of what a sensory garden
really is, the expectation is that the garden
will be accessible and designed for
universal enjoyment
j y
• More and more attention is being paid to
making an area or two of the g
g garden
enjoyable to everyone, regardless of what
the condition of their sight, smell, hearing,
touch, taste, or mobility might be
9. SENSORY GARDENS
USERS
• We anticipate a diversity of users
ranging in age and developmental
and intellectual abilities.
10. SENSORY GARDEN: Site Program
Total Garden: 4,000 sq ft
Raised Beds: 300 lin ft
Planting Area: 2,500 sq ft
Hardscape: 1,500 sq ft
1 Large Gathering Space
5 Sensory Rooms
24. Project Timeline
• Year Three
– Workshop “Train the Trainer”
– Factsheet
• Looking Ahead
– On-going Educational
Programs
25. SENSORY GARDENS
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
• The gardens will be designed primarily for
self-guided t
lf id d tours.
• Throughout the garden there will be
educational signage as well as interactive
programmatic di l
ti displays
• On-site educational programs and
workshops will be occasionally provided