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 the rhythms of life and find something there that resonates inside their deeper selves. Throughout the design process, an ethos of belonging emerged that aligns with Frances Hesselbein’s noteworthy quote: “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 who felt closely connected to the charms 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 inspirational 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. Her Garden is now transforming itself daily, exchanging energy 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 across this website. We hope that you will come to discover the unique features that await around every bend, and that you will bring something of yourself to our enterprise, while taking 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 offers its embrace and where every offering is an opportunity to delight in the magic of life.
