Gardening for the Sight-Impaired

“Gardens don’t only have to be planted for their visual beauty … they can be just as pleasing to the other senses, especially the sense of smell,” says Maureen Duffy, M.S. CVRT and Editorial Director of VisionAWARE.org, a company that designs gardens for the blind and sight-impaired.

Duffy suggests choosing plants for more than just their appearance. Roses, lilacs, lavender, and gardenias are all excellent options for their aromatic qualities. Plants like mint and geraniums can be selected for their tactual assets. Her company offers all sorts of gardening tips for people with vision loss including:

* Planting in raised beds to help create solid boundaries
* Using tools with brightly colored handles for easy spotting
* Calling attention to garden stakes by securing old tennis balls to the tops
* Marking newly planted areas with large print signs, decorative garden art or landscaping rocks

(photo credit: Newscom)