Chicago Botanic Garden Spring 2020

chicagobotanic.org 29 Create a space like the Sensory Garden Gardens affect us in ways that are not always obvious. Colorful flowers are often the first to catch our attention, but plants impact not only sight but sound, touch, and scent. The Sensory Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden reveals how a garden space can be a delight for all the senses. “It’s peaceful, a place to re ect,” said senior horticulturist Heather Sher- wood. ere’s the sound of trickling water, rustling poplar leaves, and, on a quiet late-winter day, the popping of pine cones as they open to release their seeds. ere’s the minty fragrance of herbs. And there’s the soft, fuzzy feel of Plectranthus leaves. Raised beds make many of the plants easy to smell or touch. “ e beds are a little higher than a countertop so chil- dren or adults of any ability can reach them,” Sherwood said. is spring, you won’t want to miss the display of 15,000 Harmony iris (Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’) under the white birches of the Sensory Garden’s wood- land walk. “It’s the color contrast— coming out of winter’s doldrums,” Sherwood said. “It just explodes in color and it reinvigorates me as a horti- culturist.” It’s sure to do the same for you. Find inspiration in the owers and trees of the Sensory Garden: Birch trees. e bark and the leaves of the native sweet birch (Betula lenta) are fragrant on warm summer days. “ ey smell like wintergreen chewing gum,” Sherwood said. Cosmos. Chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) is an annual that has a favorite fragrance for summer. “It’s just so fabulous and the scent is like none other,” she said. Dahlias. “Dahlias are one of my favor- ites for the size and variety of colors and textures,” Sherwood says. Bright, bold dahlia owers range in size from small pompoms to those as wide as a dinner plate. Petals can be spiky like those on a cactus or round and dainty. Katsura tree. In autumn, the yellow- gold leaves smell like cotton candy on this tree, which is native to China and Japan. Scented geraniums. ese geraniums are treasured for their fragrant leaves. Sometimes a breeze is enough to release the scent. “We rotate the variety and some are super pungent,” Sherwood said. Gently brush or rub the leaves for a whi of rose, lime, lemon, apple, orange, or peppermint. Witch hazel. e native witch hazel has a heavenly fragrance in early spring and tremendous fall color. Create your own sensory garden Horticulturist Heather Sherwood of- fers these tips for adding sensory expe- riences to your home garden. Plant grasses for sound, motion, and scent. Native switchgrass ( Panicum vir- gatum ) o ers ne textured seedheads that rustle in the wind. Sesleria and prairie dropseed smell like popcorn in fall. Add herbs like sage, rosemary, dill, chamomile, or fennel. Rub the leaves for a bit of aromatherapy when you’re in your garden. ink about four-season interest when shopping for trees and shrubs. “I like sumac, especially Prairie Flame (Rhus copallina var. latifolia 'Morton' Prairie Flame™) and Gro Low (Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low'),” Sherwood said. “ ey’re backbone plants that put on a brilliant bright red fall color.” Look for trees with interesting bark for winter, such as Peking lilac and paperbark maple. Create motion with a water feature like a birdbath with a misting device or a “pond-less” waterfall. ese features will also attract birds from spring through fall. Pair contrasting textures and sizes of leaves. For example, the Sensory Gar- den has featured the spiny-leaf naran- jilla (Solanum quitoense) alongside fuzzy silver-leaved lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina). Learn more chicagobotanic.org/gardens Chocolate Cosmos