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I forgot that alot of you don't know about this project. This garden is for my mentally and physically disabled clients. Many of you have already committed to sending plants.

Ok, are you a therapist... counselor... social worker... psychiatrist... case manager...
You used the word clients along with the word mentally disabled and it's pretty much been replaced with the terminology developmentally disabled or cognitively challenged a long time ago so I'm sort of lost.

Can you provide a link to your organization please? Who exactly owns the land you are photographing? Is there a thread somewhere that answers all these questions? Sorry for asking so many questions but there are organizations out there that may be able to assist you but you need to outline exactly what it is that you are doing and for whom.

Whoa, you sure are a kind soul tmbolin. I hope you find a means by which to share what you shared with me with others. The world could use a few more like you.

Okay, now i'm curious! What type of facility is this, and what are the plans?

Hilltoppers is an agency that provides supports for otherly abled individuals. The plan is to turn the area in the pics into a sensory garden. An oasis in the middle of chaos so to speak. Many of the folks we support have sensory issues and if they hit overload this would be the perfect calming activity. Lots and lots of work with minimal help and funds.

Does sensory issues mean these people are sensitive to noise, light, scents and maybe motion?

Although I am not familiar with Hilltoppers' residents and have no idea whether or not they serve anyone who suffers from a sensory processing disorder per se, here is a brief overview of SPD-
http://www.sinetwork.org/aboutspd/whatisspd.html

I believe when she is referring to "otherly abled individuals" she is referring to those who are cognitively challenged /developmentally delayed. A long time ago we referred to these individuals as being mentally retarded. An individual who is cognitively challenged may also have an SPD.

The developmentally delayed can derive substantial benefits from sensory gardening providing the offerings are developmentally appropriate. In other words, might not be a good idea to stick a bunch of fancy "do not touch" plants in the ground with their scientific names on corresponding plant tags when words such as "Fuzzy", "Smoothe", "Prickly", "Leathery", etc. would be best on "please DO touch" plant tags. While the public at large may benefit from a viewing garden, developmentally delayed would most probably benefit from a hands on garden which is why accessibility becomes paramount. These people have so little control over their lives that being in a position to choose to dig a little hole to plant a plant becomes a big deal and there is a sense of accomplishment associated with the process. It's the "I did that" chest pumped out pride that comes from doing we should be able to see when effective programming for differently-abled has been provided.

One comment, it is often hard for us assisting to keep our hands out of their projects. This definitely was difficult for me when I first began working with differently-abled. We all know how to dig a hole and stick a plant in properly. They generally don't know how because no one ever provided them with the opportunity. Step back, take a breath, and keep your hands out of their project unless they are trying to plant the vegetation in the hole which would result in the roots being above ground. I think a plant going in a hole upside down would be about the only time I'd step in with an oopsie comment. The sun will right plants ending up in the ground on an angle so no need to straighten anything they plant out.

All in all, sensory gardens are a great thing if designed to meet the needs of the people who will be using them.

Thanks for the informative site. I have tagged it for future reference. Burrr, it's cold on the prairie!!!

Thatnks so much Equilibrium! Next questions I get i'm sending them your way;)lol

Any time ;)

I must admit I'd be leaning toward raised beds given what little I know. When I get back from vacation, I'll go drive down and take a few photos of some raised beds I've worked in before to give you an idea of how functional they are. They're affordable and provide a quick program start up. I suspect if you requested approval to run an ad in a local newspaper asking for contributions of landscaping timbers for a garden for residents of Hilltoppers you might be pleasantly surprised at the response. Don't forget to ask Home Depot. It's been my experience they're really supportive of projects such as this.

You might want to consider running around and measuring the heights of some of the wheel chairs the people are in at Hilltoppers. Measure the distance from the arm to the ground. Sit in a few and see what your reach is. Reach to the side because that's how the wheelchairs will be pulled up to a raised bed. Use that as a guide to the optimal height as well as the depth of the raised beds.