Seeking volunteers to help out in the sensory garden. We have regular garden shared work times on Thursdays (March to October) from 9:30 to 11:30. Once a volunteer completes the application https://reader.ku.edu/volunteer-application as well as out orientation, volunteers can select hours that work for them to weed, water, sweep, trim and enjoying. Hours are flexible, folks with some gardening background helpful; tasks include physical labor and exposure to the outdoors while weeding, planting, sweeping, trimming and enjoying the garden. Complete a volunteer application at reader.ku.edu and you will get an email regarding volunteer orientation.
Purpose of the Audio-Reader Sensory Garden
The concept of a sensory garden is unique: to provide an outdoor environment that stimulates a variety of senses, making the garden particularly accessible to individuals with visual impairments and other disabilities.
Plantings include those that are very fragrant or have interesting textures. Plants are labeled with special markers that identify the plant in Braille and in print.
How to experience a sensory garden
When you stroll through the Audio-Reader Sensory Garden, you are encouraged to explore the garden with your fingers, your nose, and your ears — to touch, feel, smell and listen. This is a hands-on garden and visitors are encouraged to use several of their senses in order to enjoy all of the delights that the garden has to offer.
Children, adults, and seniors — sighted and sight-impaired — revel in the opportunity to experience this unique garden. In order to activate the fragrance of a plant, you may need to gently rub the leaf between your fingers. This also allows you to experience the unique texture of each plant. Wind chimes, a bubbling rock fountain, song birds, the chiming of the nearby Campanile, and even the sound of the KU marching band wafting from the nearby football stadium provide wonderful sounds to enjoy. Take a moment to sit on one of the garden benches and enjoy the distinctive sounds of the garden.
