Most gardens are created to interact with only one of our five senses - sight. Sure, some add a few roses and perfumed plants to entice the use of our 'smelling organs' but rarely are all five senses planned into a garden from the outset.

But, in a changing world where 'interactivity' is a key buzzword, one would assume that gardeners would plan their gardens with far more attention to engaging all our sensory perceptions. Planning only for sight with feeble attempts at interacting with a few other senses is like growing garden beds with plants all the same height. It fails to inspire.

So how do you create a garden that entices its visitors to engage all five of their senses? Easy, read on;

Touch

Plants are so varied in form and texture that to not play with the sense of touch is almost a cardinal sin. Many gardeners appreciate this and add a few plants to appeal to this sense but don't really grapple with making it a high priority.

Here's some ways to make touch an important part of your garden;

• Contrast extreme textures - one possible way of doing this would be to grow a mass planting of Lamb's ears (Stachys byzantina) around the base of a spiky Saguaro Cactus . The effect of soft and supple versus hard and prickly is sure to create a conflict within your visitors that forces them to reach out and examine the contrast.


• Grow plants that spill onto a pathway - having plants that press against your visitors as they peruse your garden is another way to sense touch and encourage some interactivity. Warning - sharp, prickly plants will deter people from using your paths.


• Use plants for pathways - while we often think that paths in our gardens should be hard, experiment with growing different lawns. Walking over a groundcover can engage our sense of touch much better than walking on brick paving.


• Locate plants that have texture appeal in accessible areas - if you have large garden beds then plonking a great texture plant in the middle where your visitors can only admire from a distance will lose some its charm. Place them closer to access areas or detour paths right past them.

Taste

In a garden setting, this is probably the hardest of all the senses to try and engage. The obvious avenues would be to grow fruit trees and plant vegetables that your visitors can sample as they walk through. But, are there other ways our sense of taste can be enticed?

• Grow nectar producing plants - many of our Australian natives such as Callistemons (bottlebrush) and grevilleas harbour nectar to tempt birds and bees to pollinate. This nectar can easily be dislodged by shaking it against the palm of your hand and the sweet syrup can be enjoyed. Kids love this stuff.


• Plant herbs in random spots - herbs are great to be enjoyed a taste at a time. Plant some coriander, different types of mint or lemon thyme in different locations that encourage your visitors to break a stem off as they walk by.

Sound

Sound is becoming more and more expected in the garden and it's a sense that gardeners are beginning to embrace. Meditation gardens are great at introducing sound as garden sounds are very relaxing. Here's how to add some sounds;

• Add some trickling water - a stream, fountain, water feature, whatever...the sound of water movement in a garden setting is a great way entice people to engage their hearing senses.


• Plant nectar producing trees and shrubs - these types of plants will always encourage bees and birds to frequent your garden and the sound of them flapping their wings is quite enjoyable. Some of our eucalypts attract thousands of bees at a time and the sound is not to dissimilar to the hum of a distant plane.


• Grow grasses - as the breeze catches these gracious plants, the sound that emanates from their foliage is both gentle and soothing.


• Encourage cicadas and crickets - if you enjoy the sound of summer then entice these little critters into your garden by growing plants that will attract them. Cicadas enjoy sucking sap from their hosts while crickets are happy to feed on seeds and crumbs.

Smell

If garden fragrances hit you before you enter it then you know the owner has put some effort into using the sense of smell. It's certainly one of the easiest senses to engage in the garden as there are loads of perfumed plants available in almost any setting.

• Contrast texture with fragrance - growing plants that spill onto walkways not only interact with your visitors sense of touch but can also force aromas to be released. A hedge of lavender, or a groundcover of thyme that emits gorgeous perfumes as you walk past or on is incredibly soothing and enjoyable.


• Grow perfumed climbers on arbours - the reason for this is that it allows airflow better than growing them on a fence or wall. Jasmine, or scented climbing roses are great for this and will exude delightful aromas.

Plant roses throughout your garden beds - rather than just grouping them together in one location. Your visitors can then enjoy the fragrances as they enjoy your whole garden rather than just at one point.

Sight

This is by far the easiest sense to employ and therefore needs very little commentary. However, there are some ideas that I've discussed previously that may inspire you in this area;

Creating some 'Explore-Lust' in your garden
Taking advantage of the borrowed landscape
Add some outdoor lighting to illuminate your garden at night

I hope this has inspired you to plan and create a five senses garden and if you have other tips 'n' ideas then I'd love to hear them.