Welcome
Nestled in one corner of UNC Charlotte’s beautiful Botanical Gardens, Polly's Sensory Garden is a testament to the power of nature to heal, inspire, and captivate. Our journey began with a dream—to create a sanctuary where people of all ages and abilities could reconnect with nature, engage their senses in harmonious interplay and find something there that resonates inside their deeper selves. Throughout the design process, we used an ethos of belonging that is similar to the one captured in this quote from Frances Hesselbein: “And if we value diversity and inclusion, then we must ask ‘When they look at us, can they find themselves.’ Polly, our beloved inspiration, was a soul deeply connected to the enchantments of the diverse world around her. Through careful planning and dedication, we have transformed this dream into a reality bringing Polly's spirit to life in every inspirationally curated element of our garden.
Polly’s Sensory Garden has evolved tremendously, in some ways magically, from the first conceptual sketch you see above to the detailed illustrative plan you see below - now transforming itself daily along the rhythms of the natural world. We hope you will accept our invitation to explore, interact, and linger, both at the Garden itself and now across this new website - part personal blog, part garden program guide - that we’ve just launched. We hope that you will come to discover the unique features that await around each turn, that you will bring something of yourself to our enterprise – and will take something of it with you as your visit ends. We invite you to become a part of Polly's legacy, to share in the joy of discovery, and to celebrate renewal in a place where nature's wonders offer their embrace. Welcome to Polly's Sensory Garden—where every offering is an opportunity to delight in the magic of life.
