Growing Together: Our Sensory Garden
Sensory gardens are popping up all across the country and right here in Washington State as welcoming spaces where people of all abilities can connect with nature in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful. These gardens are designed to engage the five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and even taste while supporting calm, curiosity, and accessibility for everyone.
A great Washington State example is the sensory garden at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, part of a growing movement supported by organizations like the American Horticultural Society and KultureCity, which promote inclusive, sensory-friendly spaces in communities nationwide. Closer to home, efforts like the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Habitat at Home program and the Backyard Habitat Certification Program encourage creating outdoor spaces that are not only beautiful, but also engaging, sustainable, and supportive of diverse needs.
Here at NatureScaping, our Sensory Garden is planning to grow into a series of small, peaceful garden “vignettes” designed with intention, featuring accessible pathways, fragrant and textured plants, quiet seating areas, and interactive elements that invite visitors to slow down and experience the garden in their own way.
Our First Vignette: The Herb & Edible Flower Labyrinth
One of the first spaces taking shape is our herb and edible flower labyrinth, a gently winding, single-path garden designed to guide visitors through a calming, sensory-rich experience. Unlike a maze, the labyrinth offers a predictable path, reducing anxiety and allowing visitors to move at their own pace without decision-making pressure.
This space brings the sensory garden philosophy to life:
- Smell: lavender, rosemary, and other fragrant herbs
- Touch: soft, textured plants like lamb’s ear and sage
- Taste: edible flowers and herbs that invite safe interaction
- Sight: seasonal color and visual contrast
- Sound: pollinators and the natural movement of plants in the breeze
The labyrinth is currently in progress and will serve as our first completed vignette, helping to demonstrate how intentional design can create a welcoming and inclusive environment for individuals of all abilities. Once completed, visitors will be invited to move along the path, the experience naturally transitions from more stimulating sensory input along the outer edges to a quieter, more reflective space at the center, creating a gentle opportunity for regulation, pause, and seated calm.
For me, this work is deeply personal. As a parent of an adult son with autism, I’ve seen how few community spaces are truly designed with sensory needs in mind. Too often, individuals like my son are expected to “fit in” to environments that can feel overwhelming or unwelcoming. What he and so many others really need are spaces that are thoughtfully created with their neurology in mind from the start.
My hope is that this garden becomes one of those places here in Clark County where people can arrive, exhale, and feel a true sense of belonging, where they are not asked to adapt or “fit in,” but are welcomed exactly as they are, from their very first step into the space.
Monica Meyer, NatureScaping Sensory Garden Coordinator & Master Gardener
Monica Meyer is an Autism Consultant with over 25 years of experience supporting individuals with autism and co-occurring intellectual disabilities. Her work has reached national, state, and local communities, and she regularly collaborates with schools, employers, recreation programs, healthcare settings, as well as the families and professionals who support them. Monica provides training and consultation grounded in best practice and evidence-based strategies that promote inclusion, functional communication, and positive behavior supports—helping individuals live, work, contribute, and thrive in their own communities. To learn more, visit her website: https://monicameyer.com.
What Is a Sensory Garden?
A sensory garden is a thoughtfully designed outdoor space that invites people to experience nature through all five senses—sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.
These gardens go beyond traditional landscaping by creating environments that are:
- Welcoming and accessible for people of all abilities
- Calming and engaging for those who benefit from sensory support
- Interactive, encouraging visitors to touch, smell, listen, and explore
Sensory gardens are especially meaningful for individuals with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, PTSD, vision or hearing differences, and anyone seeking a more peaceful, grounding connection with nature.
Common features include:
- Fragrant and textured plants
- Edible herbs and flowers
- Accessible pathways and raised beds
- Quiet seating and reflection areas
- Natural sounds like wind, water, and pollinators
At their heart, sensory gardens are about belonging—creating spaces where people can slow down, feel comfortable, and experience nature in a way that works for them.
How to make gardens accessible in every sense. Podcast with Monica.