This garden has given our residents a sense of ownership. It has also given our residents a true sense of belonging because not a day goes past without a mention of how their efforts in the garden are progressing and if there are any new plans for the days and weeks ahead. People enjoy relating their experiences, their successes. The garden can offer this opportunity. The garden has given our residents a good sense of relaxing boundaries. A feeling of independence and freedom and purpose. There is created a need to plan, the anticipation of the results from their efforts, stimulate, conversation and reminiscence on the method they might use for their project and as a result can create a positive attitude which carries through to the aspects of their daily life. The person who enjoys gardening is setting up for themselves a set of very healthy circumstances in a very natural way.

The feelings of belonging begin to emerge. The resident may no longer feel they have relinquished their beloved garden, their backyard. A common interest is created amongst the residents, an opportunity to share with each other their gardening experience. Friendships and loyalties can be naturally formed, from a common interest. We all can develop a caring feeling for the back or front garden if we have an interest in gardening. Now there is an opportunity to again own their favourite plants, plant our favourite seedlings and watch over them.

Many people when the time comes to move into care, miss the privacy of their gardens and the companionship the garden can give with the common interest of friends and relatives. Discussing the watering, weeding, methods of growing and the propagation of seeds collected the previous season. Feeding the plants, picking the fruit and vegetables, smelling the perfume of the blooms, admiring the colour, feeling the delicate petals, tasting the produce. Each one of the senses is stimulated each season of the year and can lead to a year full of activity.

For each person and their family, the resident gains self esteem, the opportunity to participate in worthwhile activity with their visitor; the watering of the garden, planning, feeding the gold fish, replenishing the bird feeder or just sitting and relaxing while quietly soaking up the sun or the cool morning air and listening to the sounds of the city or the tinkle of the waterfall. The gains of the resident in mental and physical well being are enormous, giving them a sense of purpose.

To plan for a sensory garden can be a project both residents and families can work together to design to suit their needs. It has been for our facility both exciting and a very worthwhile project, creating excitement and anticipation generated by each person watching the development of the various stages.

We find each season offers something different. In summertime each person has a chance to enjoy outdoor activity with our Tai Chi group in the cool atmosphere of the garden and in the morning air. Morning tea is served outdoors, a chance to enjoy the sounds of the city, the children at the local creche across the road, can be heard laughing and squealing. Summertime offers us the fruits of our labours, we pick the tomatoes, we smell their fragrance, we taste their flavour, we finally get to pick the rhubarb we've been growing so lushly into huge leaves an event we enjoy with great interest. In summer the task of watering took up much of our time. Friends and relatives assisted when they visited. The marigolds we planted finally bloomed making a vibrant show of oranges and yellows.

Autumn came and it was time to plant our bulbs, daffodils and jonquils and harvest our seeds for the next season. We set them in a place to dry, ready for the next planting. We collected the dry seed heads of the Cosmos. They will be planted next season. The weather grows colder and the water lilies have finished flowering. The fish no longer need to be fed as often.

Winter is now here. The budgies need to be covered each night as protection from the cold. We need to remember to lift the cover next morning when the sun warms the morning air. We replenish the bird feeders regularly. Visitors to the garden are less frequent, so the responsibility for the watering remains with us.

Spring is here. Our daffodils have bloomed. We hope we have more flowers than last season. The daphne is beautiful and the perfume exquisite. We have beautiful white lilies out by the pool. The sun is warm and comforting coming through the window. Soon we will be able to enjoy our outdoor activities again.