Photo credit: Mark Kalagias, MKX Photography
There’s a new garden in town—a polite slice of perfection tucked away in an unassuming corner of the Memphis Botanic Garden. It is the newly renovated Little Garden Club Sensory Garden.
Photo credit: Mark Kalagias, MKX Photography
Photo credit: Mark Kalagias, MKX Photography
Yes, the MBG Sensory Garden has been welcoming guests for 25 years, but this year The Little Garden Club of Memphis (LGC), a member of The Garden Club of America (GCA), provided leadership and funding for its renovation with a grand re-opening in April 2014. This elegant space now boasts several updated elements: a pergola entry designed by Marley Slutz of Fields Landscape Design, an obelisk focal point, plus fresh plantings and lighting.
The original Sensory Garden was also a place for Memphis to be proud of … In 1987, the garden received national recognition as a recipient of The GCA Founders Fund Award. Here are a few images of the original Sensory Garden:
Original Sensory Garden, entrance
Original Sensory Garden
Original Sensory Garden, water lilies and a fountain.
With Tom Pellet as the plant designer, the hope for this year’s renovation was to maintain the initial, award-winning design but create a new, more formalized look. The planting has been simplified but the Garden still addresses all the senses, offering something unique every season.
Lets take a walk through the new Sensory Garden with Memphis Botanic Garden’s Jana Wilson …
Plants were selected for their interesting textures and fragrances so that they could be experienced using different senses.
It is still a four-seasons garden, but with the new structure it will feel more inviting to visitors. These new elements will create interest as visitors enter. Functionality and ambience have also been improved to make receptions, special events and gatherings even more distinctive.
If you have a special occasion on the horizon, add this delightful spot to your list of venue ideas.
This garden’s primary purpose is to enable people with special needs to enjoy the garden experience with ease. Elevated plants are easy to view from a wheelchair; sounds of wind chimes and fountains add the dimension of sound; and plants were selected for their interesting textures and fragrances so that they could be experienced using different senses.
Also, the diversity of trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, aquatic plants, roses, herbs and bulbs located inside this garden space is a compact representation of the broad range of plants existing throughout the Memphis Botanic Garden.
We could see a lovely afternoon gathering taking place in this tranquil setting …
… or a beautiful, small garden wedding!
The Sensory Garden is one of Memphis’ best everyday getaways, but if you have a special occasion on the horizon such as a small wedding or cocktail party, be sure to add this tranquil setting to your list of ideas. You would be one of the first to entertain in this delightful spot that just reopened in April!
This elegant garden is the result of hard work by many. Pictured here (l to r): MBG horticulturist Chris Cosby, LGC renovation leaders Lisa Snowden, Gina White, Kathy Adams (LGC President ), Michelle Dunavant and MBG horticulturist Kyle McLane.
For more information, contact the Memphis Botanic Garden. memphisbotanicgarden.com
