Sensory Garden
The Sensory Garden, next to the Senior Center in Pleasanton's Centennial Park, is designed and maintained by Livermore Amador Valley Garden Club members.
Most of our visitors are seniors so we keep that in mind when designing the garden. If you're there on a work day,
you'll be thanked for your efforts by the many seniors who pass through.
The garden's name describes what it is meant to do-stimulate the senses. Each plant in the garden has been selected for its particular characteristics; for example, for color, texture, fragrance, attraction for pollinators and birds. The garden consists of three raised beds and two large in-ground beds. Each raised bed is labeled with a sign for its sensory theme-Visual, Smell, Touch-with the plants in the bed following its theme. All beds are designed for year-round appeal to both people and wildlife.
Participation
This service project is open to all club members; no experience is necessary. We all learn from each other.
The garden's name describes what it is meant to do-stimulate the senses. Each plant in the garden has been selected for its particular characteristics; for example, for color, texture, fragrance, attraction for pollinators and birds. The garden consists of three raised beds and two large in-ground beds. Each raised bed is labeled with a sign for its sensory theme-Visual, Smell, Touch-with the plants in the bed following its theme. All beds are designed for year-round appeal to both people and wildlife.
Participation
This service project is open to all club members; no experience is necessary. We all learn from each other.
Meeting Times
Members gather at the garden each month to weed, prune, and otherwise maintain the garden.See the newsletter for work party dates. For more information and to be added to the group's mailing list, send email to the leaders on Contact Us.
Garden Refresh Project, 2022-2023
In the fall of 2022, Club members began refreshing the garden because over the years it had veered away from its sensory focus. New plants were purchased and grouped according to sensory theme, and old and tired plants were removed. Currently, members are working on adding signs to the garden and installing plant tags to identify the plants. Members are planning to have a party in the spring for our senior visitors to introduce them to the refreshed garden.LAVGC participation in the Party on the Patio Event, May 11, 2023
Garden Refresh Project Details
Sensory Garden History
The Sensory Garden, in the Centennial Park by the Senior Center, was the result of collaboration between the Livermore Amador Valley Garden Club (LAVGC), City of Pleasanton staff, the Pleasanton Senior Center Task Force, the Park and Recreation Commission, and the Pleasanton City Council. It was built in the early 1990s.When the Senior Center and Park planning was underway in the early 1990s, the LAVGC leadership approached the City staff, proposing that a Sensory Garden be included in the Centennial Park by the Senior Center. The purpose of the garden would be to provide the surrounding Senior community a full garden sensory experience, offering a welcome memory of gardens in their past. Members of the Senior Center Task Force were quite supportive of the project and even suggested some plant ideas. The Senior Center and the surrounding park were dedicated in October 1992.
The City agreed to fund the basic structure, irrigation and soils for the new Sensory Garden. The Garden Club agreed to provide the plants and take full responsibility for the garden maintenance. LAVGC members have been maintaining the Sensory Garden for 30 years, since its inception. The City has been helping by providing a trailer to pick up garden debris after LAVGC work parties.
Resources
Brochure May 2023Maintenance May 2023
Member Meeting May 2023
Pictures
Archived Work parties are fun for getting to know our members and the participants learn about horticultural practices as they perform the work of transplanting, weeding, dead heading, pruning, fertilizing, controlling pests and propagation of plants.
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