Allotments 4 All

I do shifts at a kind of halfway house between the community and a mental health ward, its there to help people at the point of crisis and to try and avoid them being hospitalised.  There isn't anywhere they can go for a bit of peace and quiet apart from an ugly concrete back garden.

What I'm planning on doing is growing some stuff up from seeds now, assuming I've got stuff that it's still ok to sow to create a bit more of a peaceful atmosphere for them.  It all has to go in pots and I'm trying to find things that will help to create an ambient environment.

Does anyone have any ideas of nice things to grow either scent/texture/appearance wise?  I already have some lavender and some different herbs, but some extra ideas would be great.

Cheers  :)

For early spring Hyacinth.They planted them in huge numbers all the same colour outside college this year and the look and the smell was stunning :)

Isn't it odd the way things smell different to different people, my nan loves hyacinths, yet to me the smell is foul! And I love the smell of tomato plants but she can't stand them!  Good idea though, thanks Betula.

Hi, I work in a similar environment and I have been asked to provide a sensory area...I plan to make a seating area out of decking or scaffold boards that also have planters in it that would perhaps have mint, sage or any other pungent smelling plant in it just in case someone wanted to pick and twiddle a leaf or two so to speak. We also have a shed and I am planning to place a piece of ply on the back of it with drift wood, pebbles and shells etc stuck to it. Well that's how far I have got so I hope this is helpful :).

Cheers
Tony

I think the herbs are a very good idea.  Ornamental grasses are tactile and make a nice rustling noise in the breeze and how about a solar powered water feature or if that's too expensive, then any large pot with a few water plants?

G x

Well I live literally 5 minutes walk from the beach so the driftwood would be a good idea and I never thought of large pots with water plants.  Thanks guys.

 :D Posie this is a brilliant idea and will make an ideal area when peace and quiet is needed!!
I found this list on the internet and have copied and pasted it for you to have a look at and see what you think. There seem to be some great suggestions amongst the list. I hope it helps a little. Love aromatic xxx

PLANT LIST:

Shrubs – Year-round colour/Seasonal Interest:
Echinacea purpurea                                               
Skimmia confusa 'Kew Green'   
Cornus alba 'Sibirica'               
Dierama pulcherrimum                     
Forsythia
Viburnum davidii
Corylus avellana 'Contorta'

Climbers:

Lonicera japonica                                               
Clematis montana                                                 
Hydrangea anomala petiolaris             
Parthenocissus quinquefolia                         
Clematis tangutica                                             
Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart'   
Clematis cirrhosa                                               
Jasminum nudiflorum         
Trachelospermum asiaticum

Scented & Textured Plants for raised beds:

Lavandula intermedia 'Grappenhall'                       
Rosmarinus officinalis                             
Alchemilla mollis                                               
Chicorium intybus                                 
Crocosmia latifolia 'Lucifer'                                 
Thymus vulgaris                                 
Santolina pinnata 
Astilboides tabularis
Hemerocallis
Agapanthus                         

Plants for Sound:

Fargesia nitida                                                   
Stipa arundinacea                                       
Carex elata 'Aurea'                                   

Jungle' Architectural Planting:

Phormium cookianum 'Dazzler'               
Phormium cookianum 'Jester'                                 
Cordyline australis                                               
Yucca filamentosa                                         

Wildlife:

Buddleja davidii                                 
Hebe vernicosa 'Wiri Image'
Pyracantha koidzumii 'Mohave'                               


                                                 

Could someone build an archway,clematis ,climbing rose or Honeysuckle.

I think a little height has more impact than a flat area.

Snowdrops for very early in the year,they always give the promise of the spring to come,essential while enduring winter

Thank you so much Aromatic, that list is really interesting.  And snowdrops for spring are a great idea Betula, I think I have some of those stored somewhere, although the mice ate all mine when I planted them up the lottie!  :o

On the allotment stand at the NEC last year they had a half barrel filled with water and a solar water fountain going in it.They put the sensor on the arch.
It was very effective in a small area.

I may try this one myself as you have my grey matter going now...How about hanging different lengths of bamboo canes next to each each other from either a tree or a hanging basket bracket???...It will not have that chime effect from the big fat bamboo wind chimes however I am sure in a light breeze they will produce a pleasant non intrusive sound.

Cheers
Tony

Now that is a great idea Tony, wonder if I whittled holes in them in different places it would make a different sound.  Now you have got me thinking lol

In the back concrete area could you do part in a raised bed of 4 by 4s, high enough for folks to sit on the edge?
Then plant it with your driftwood, seashells,  whitish stemmed plants like Russian sage and others that don't demand much water plus some tall grasses for height and movement, maybe even some disgarded fencing that is used in seashore areas. 

Could you bring in a load of sand to cover the concrete? wouldn't that be neat. Some beach chairs to sit on in the sand. Little buckets and shovels. Find a volunteer to paint a seascape mural if there's a blank wall as a backdrop.
Oh the possibilities.  Have a great time. I'm envious :)  Sounds like a wonderful project you are entertaining.

Night Scented Phlox, something beginning with Z... does well in poor light areas and is excellent for sitting in evenings... but not to every ones "taste"
:-\