Welcome to Our Garden

Hello and welcome to Gardens & Such!

My name is Tara, and I'm so glad you've found your way here.

I'm a horticulturist, a plant lover, and most importantly, a mom. This blog was born from two of my greatest passions: gardening and creating meaningful experiences for my son through nature.

As the mother of a child with autism and sensory processing challenges, I've seen firsthand how the right environment can transform a simple outdoor space into a place of discovery, comfort, learning, and joy—a place where children can explore at their own pace, engage their senses, and build meaningful connections with the world around them.

What started as a simple idea to create a sensory-friendly space for my child has grown into a vision for a children's sensory garden designed to engage all five senses while supporting the love of gardening here in Colorado. As both a parent and a horticulturist, I've witnessed how nature can calm busy minds, encourage exploration, and provide opportunities for children to interact with their environment in ways that feel safe and meaningful.

This sensory garden is truly a labor of love. Every plant, pathway, texture, fragrance, and feature is being chosen with purpose. Soft grasses invite touch, fragrant herbs encourage exploration, colorful blooms spark curiosity, and quiet corners offer moments of peace. My hope is to create a space where children can experience nature at their own pace and in their own unique way.

 Through this blog, I'll be sharing our journey as the garden grows—from planning and plant selection to sensory-friendly design ideas, gardening tips, seasonal projects, and the lessons I've learned both as a horticulturist and as a mom navigating the wonderful, sometimes challenging, world of sensory differences.

 Whether you're a parent, grandparent, educator, therapist, gardener, or someone who simply loves the outdoors, I hope you'll find inspiration here. My goal is to help others discover how gardens can become welcoming spaces where every child feels encouraged to explore, learn, and thrive.

 One of the greatest gifts gardening has given my family is the opportunity to slow down and appreciate the small moments—a flower opening in the morning sun, the scent of lavender on a warm afternoon, the gentle rustle of ornamental grasses in the breeze. These experiences may seem simple, but they can be incredibly powerful for children learning to navigate a sensory-rich world.

 Thank you for joining me on this adventure. I look forward to sharing our successes, challenges, discoveries, and plenty of gardening inspiration along the way.

 Together, let's cultivate a garden that celebrates curiosity, embraces differences, and reminds us all of the incredible connection between children and nature.

Welcome to our garden.

Warmly,

Tara

Co -Founder,  Gardens & Such