Top 4 Sensory Gardens in Maryland to see before Summer Ends
What is a Sensory Garden?
A sensory garden is an outdoor space that allows for people of all abilities to enjoy exploring all of their senses with plant and nature-based activities. Often sensory gardens will include movement activities for children like the Enchanted Garden's fitness trail. By doing so, these activities engage your sense of balance and increase awareness of your body. They also usually add sound elements like running water, chimes and other interactive sound pieces. Colorful, fragrant plants are essential in a sensory garden. Typically, they will incorporate herbs like lavender and rosemary for everyone to observe, smell or taste!
Accessibility Considerations
Wheelchair access: Some of the sensory gardens in Maryland noticeably had stone mulch paths or uneven surfaces that could be difficult to move through with a wheelchair independently. Talmar may be particularly challenging as there was no visible paved path to their sensory garden. It was mostly downhill from the parking lot through a grassy space to access the garden. The Enchanted Garden appeared easily accessible by wheelchair as the paths were all wide and paved evenly on level surfaces.
Other considerations: Patapsco provides guide rope and some braille signs for the visually impaired to easily navigate, although a guide may verbally need to provide instructions for you to know how to interact with each station on the trail. Patapsco and Londontown are both well-shaded even during the peak of the day.
All of the gardens include raised garden beds or tall flower pots so that you can enjoy the plants from a standing or wheelchair level. Contact the garden you're interested in visiting directly to ask any questions related to accessibility before your visit.
Without further ado, here are the top 4 sensory gardens in Maryland to fit in the end of your summer break:
1. Enchanted Garden at the Miller Branch Library
Entrance Fee: Free
What Senses Your Kids Will Use: Smell, See, Touch, Hear, Move
Best Experience: The Peter Rabbit garden and the fitness trail
Address: 9411 Frederick Road Ellicott City, MD 21042
2. Londontown Sound and Sensory Garden
Entrance Fee: Adults $12 / Seniors (62+) $10/ Youth (7-17) $7 /Children (4 - 6) $3 / Children 3 and Under Free. Discounts available.
What Senses Your Kids Will Use: Smell, See, Touch, Hear, Move
Best Experience: Using a magnifying glass to get a closer look. Then, climbing on the raised log.
Address: 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD 21037
3. Patapsco State Park Sensory Trail
Entrance Fee: $2 per car
What Senses Your Kids Will Use: Smell, See, Touch, Hear
Best Experience: Guide rope throughout the 0.1 mile trail, touching the different textured grasses
Address: Patapsco Valley State Park - Hilton Area (near the tire park)
1101 Hilton Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228
4. Talmar Sensory Garden
Entrance Fee: Free
What Senses Your Kids Will Use: Smell, See, Touch, Taste, Hear, Move
Best Experience: Taste fresh chives or mint. After, explore Cromwell Park.
Address: 1994 Cromwell Bridge Rd, Baltimore, MD 21234