Sensory Gardens

A hands-on guide to designing sensory gardens, with practical tips for creating outdoor spaces at home and in communities that enrich the senses and heal the mind and body

While all gardens offer sensory appeal, intentionally designed sensory gardens balance our senses and support the needs of people with challenges such as depression, anxiety, ADHD and autism, PTSD, mobility concerns, and age-related cognitive issues. Written by an occupational therapist and landscape architect, Sensory Gardens makes these design strategies accessible for everyone, offering scalable solutions for outdoor spaces ranging from balconies and backyards to neighborhoods, public parks, and community gardens.

Amy Wagenfeld and Daniel Winterbottom blend innovative design ideas with digestible information about the eight sensory systems—our five basic senses plus body position and movement, balance, and internal awareness such as hunger, thirst, and heart rate. Attentive to the realities of people’s varied sensory capacities and preferences, Wagenfeld and Winterbottom artfully explain how to create personalized landscapes that comfort, convey meaning, and reconnect us with the earth and ourselves. They provide thirty-five sensory-specific projects along with “Spotlights” that share additional outdoor activities, examples of standout gardens, and stories from people who have experienced sensory enrichment in nature.

Beautifully illustrated, Sensory Gardens empowers gardeners and design professionals to create outdoor spaces that nourish the senses, steady the mind, and promote well-being.