Spring into Growth: Gardening with Purpose in Mason’s Sensory Garden

Spring has arrived, and with it, we’re thrilled to kick off a new season of gardening activities in Mason’s Sensory Garden! This thoughtfully designed space is more than just a beautiful outdoor feature—it’s a functional and inclusive extension of the services we provide.

Here’s how our staff is creatively incorporating the garden into different programs to support our clients’ individual goals:

🌿 Occupational Therapy: From digging in the soil to picking vegetables and watering plants, the garden offers many ways to support both gross and fine motor development. Clients can explore different textures, smells, and sounds—like the crunch of gravel under their feet—as part of their sensory experience. Even walking through the space provides a natural opportunity to practice dynamic standing balance.

🌼 Speech Therapy: Speech therapists are putting a playful twist on traditional sessions by encouraging clients to “dig up” specific sounds as they work in the garden beds. The outdoor environment is also ideal for building social communication skills through turn-taking, planting, watering, and interactive games that reinforce speech goals.

🐎 Adaptive Riding Lessons: Between riding sessions, clients will have opportunities to connect with the garden through agriculture-related tasks. It’s a hands-on way to develop responsibility, learn about nature, and enjoy a calming outdoor routine that complements their time with the horses.

Whether it’s through sensory exploration, language play, or building motor skills, Mason’s Sensory Garden is blooming with potential. We can’t wait to see all the growth—both in the garden and in our clients—this season!