Opportunities bloom with Braden River Library's new sensory garden

Bradenton’s Rita Patel kneeled next to her daughter Aarna Patel to look at the plants in the Braden River Library’s new sensory garden. 

They were able to see various native Florida plants, including Browne’s savory, Scarlet salvia, false rosemary, beach creeper and dune sunflowers, as they went down the stone path. 

Braden River Library unveiled its new sensory garden during an Earth Day celebration April 22. 

Chris Culp, the youth librarian at the Braden River Library, said library staff has wanted a sensory garden for years, but staff decided to wait until after the construction of a new wing to the library was complete to start the garden. 

“I visited a sensory garden and thought, ‘What a great thing to have to learn about plants,’” Culp said. “Every library has what they call a makerspace now, which is arts and crafts, but this is going to be like a living science space.”

Photo by Liz Ramos

The library received a $500 grant from the Serenoa Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. With the help of the Master Gardener Volunteer Program through the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences Manatee County, the library was able to begin working on the garden in March. Master Gardener volunteers helped to design and choose the plants for the garden. 

“It’s a labor of love that we started,” Culp said. 

Culp said the sensory garden is a work in progress as she hopes to add a bird bath, sundial, some type of tree like a fruit tree, a story trail, and other features. A story trail will allow people to read a page of a story at a time as they go along the path of the garden. 

The bird bath, herbs and peaceful scenery will address the senses of sight, sound, smell and touch. 

“Everybody learns differently,” said Sally Herb, a Master Gardener volunteer. “Some people learn by seeing, some people learn by touching, some by hearing. If you can give as many sensory opportunities as you can, everybody will have an opportunity to learn something.”

The plants also will attract butterflies, such as monarch butterflies, to the garden, providing an opportunity for people to learn about butterflies, their life cycles and more.

Culp plans to have story times in the garden and educational activities for people of all ages.

Photo by Liz Ramos

Culp said the library also will have Master Gardeners come once per month to answer questions and help people who wish to start their own gardens while promoting Florida-friendly plants. 

All the plants in the garden are native to Florida to ensure they are easy to care for and will survive in Florida weather. The library purchased the plants from Sweet Bay Nursery. Master Gardener volunteers and library staff and volunteers donated earth boxes that are against the wall of the library. 

Norma Kisida, a Master Gardener volunteer, said several factors had to be taken into consideration when designing the garden and choosing the plants, including how much sunlight there would be, water and drainage and the pH of the soil. 

“These plants are better suited because they take less water, less maintenance and less fertilizer,” Kisida said. 

Culp and Kisida are hopeful that people will enjoy the garden and take advantage of the educational opportunities. 

“We’re hoping to encourage more people to put in native plants and plants that support pollinators,” Kisida said.