Elsie McCarthy Sensory Garden

A Garden for All Senses

Located in Glendale is a little slice of sensory heaven that might just change how you experience a garden. This unique space was created to awaken all your senses - sight, sound, smell, and touch - making it particularly welcoming for visitors with visual impairments. It's actually Arizona's first garden specifically designed with this purpose in mind, offering a fully immersive experience that goes beyond just looking at pretty plants.

Meaningful Legacy

Behind this special place is the story of Elsie McCarthy, a passionate Valley gardener who didn't let losing her eyesight stop her from enjoying her treasured hobby. Through her will, McCarthy gifted funds to create this scented and tactile garden for visually impaired visitors. Her only request? That it be dedicated to her father, Robert Henry Bourdon. Pretty touching, right?

Garden Areas

The garden unfolds across five distinct spaces: the Wisdom Garden, Celebration Garden, Contemplation Garden, Reflection Garden, and Story Totem Garden. Each area has its own personality and water features designed to engage different senses in unique ways.

Near the entrance, you'll discover a tactile map - a thoughtful touch that allows visitors with visual impairments to feel the garden's layout and get their bearings before exploring.

Special Features

Wander into the Celebration Garden and you'll discover four fascinating labyrinth rocks with intricate maze patterns etched into each block. Go ahead and trace them with your fingers - that's exactly what they're there for. Over in the Story Totem Garden, there's a beautiful sculpture called "Seeing Beyond" created by artists Joan Baron and Robert Miley, featuring a tile mosaic with water gently trickling through its center.

Diverse Plant Life

The plant selection here isn't random - each species was chosen for its sensory qualities. Visitors can run their hands over different textures and breathe in varied scents from plants like the Desert Museum Palo Verde, Mexican Bird of Paradise, Desert Lavender, Cherry-Red Sage, and Purple Prickly-Pear, among others.

There's also a rose garden area, however its bloom and condition might vary depending on when you visit and recent maintenance.

Sensory Experience

What makes this garden special is how everything works together to engage your senses. Specific plants offer interesting textures and fragrances, water features provide gentle sounds and visual movement, and in the evening, lighting creates dramatic effects that transform the space.

All these elements combine to make this one of Glendale's most unique and thoughtful public spaces.

Visitor Experience

The garden has earned a reputation as a peaceful sanctuary - a place where you can escape the noise of everyday life. Its intimate setting makes it well-suited for quiet reflection or simply catching your breath away from the busier surrounding park.

You can find covered seating areas that work well for small picnics or just sitting and taking in the atmosphere. The garden is part of a larger park complex, so there are other recreational options nearby if you want to make a day of it.

Practical Information

Just so you know, there aren't any public restrooms within the garden itself. If you're bringing your four-legged friend along, you'll be happy to hear the garden is dog-friendly, with waste bags and trash cans available throughout.