Bernheim is closed on February 19.

Must Sees

Sensory Garden

More Information

Admission:

Free. A donation of $15 is recommended per car for non-members.

Location:

Near the Education Center and the Silos, easily accessible via the Education Center parking lot.

A Place of Inclusion

The Sensory Garden features five beds, each dedicated to one of the senses, plus a quiet space for those who need a calming environment. This thoughtfully designed space fosters acceptance, support, and a harmonious connection with nature for all who visit.

 

 

No matter our ability level, we all connect with nature through our senses and we are unwavering in our dedication to furthering our founder’s vision of a place that everyone can experience.

– Bernheim President and CEO, Dr. Mark K. Wourms

Community Voices

Shaped with Thoughtful Collaboration

During the garden’s design and development in 2022, the team worked closely with communities such as Families for Effective Autism Treatment, Dreams with Wings, and the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation. Through meaningful conversations with these partners, the Bernheim team gained a better understanding of how individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and visual impairments use and navigate spaces.

This collaboration led to an amplified sensory design, creating a more accessible space for individuals with sensory challenges to experience nature independently. Generous support from the Crusade for Children and Kosair Charities also helped bring this inclusive vision to life.

Features of the Sensory Garden

Interpretive Signage & Information

Garden signage includes Braille and pictographs, used to describe each sensory landscape bed, the Quiet space, and the overall purpose of the garden. Additionally, tree identification signs with Braille are located in the picnic area near the Smell and Quiet spaces.

In 2024, Bernheim further enhanced accessibility with the introduction of the Otocast audio tour, allowing visitors to engage with the Sensory Garden through narrated descriptions of eleven key locations.

Plants with tactile qualities

In the Touch space, visitors can explore plants like lamb’s ear, coneflower, sensitive fern, hops, and variegated yucca. Tactile elements also include smooth driftwood from the Falls of the Ohio, bumpy and rough-textured planter pots, and various upcycled components awaiting installation.

Quiet Space

The Quiet space incorporates an infinity symbol, historically linked with autism awareness, created through plantings of Adam’s columnar yew (Taxus cuspidata ‘Columnaris’). Repurposed millstones found on-site serve as seats within this quiet space, offering visitors a soothing place to connect with nature.

Sound Elements

A decorative water feature serves as a summer water source for birds and small mammals. The Hearing space is centered around water, with the entire garden filled with the soothing sounds of nature—buzzing insects, rustling leaves, wind chimes, and joyful laughter —offering a deeply immersive sensory experience.

Buddy Benches

The Buddy Benches were inspired by a local Cub Scout’s desire to create a safe space for those who have been bullied or feel “different,” offering a moment of relief from negative feelings.

Emerging by Meg White

Meg White’s Emerging is a three-tiered limestone sculpture depicting a figure rising from the stone. Symbolizing the journey of stepping out of security to achieve one’s potential, it resonates with the interactive nature of the Sensory Garden, inviting visitors to explore beyond their comfort zones.

… Their (Bernheim) invitation to be a part of the planning and execution of the Sensory Garden and accompanying art installation underscores their incredible commitment to making the beauty of nature accessible and inclusive. We look forward to spending time enjoying the garden and all that Bernheim has to offer its visitors.

– Heather Sauer of Dreams with Wings