Lamb's ears (Stachys byzantina) are soft to the touch. Visually impaired people need not be excluded from the delights of gardening. Just consider a garden's nonvisual appeal.
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Select plants that appeal to the senses besides sight. For example, velvety-smooth lamb's ears or crinkly horehound foliage is wonderful to touch.
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Stimulate the auditory sense with ornamental grasses that rustle in the breeze, wind chimes or bells that ring through the garden, or a fountain's splash and murmur.
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Fragrance should play an important role in every garden, whether from roses, herbs or night-bloomers such as moonflowers or jasmine.
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Helpful tools for visually impaired gardeners are a large magnifying glass to better see small plants, and seed tape and mechanical seeders that help eliminate fumbling with tiny seeds.
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And think big, bold and bright. Mass plantings are especially effective, as are plants with huge leaves. Likewise, vividly colored plant markers also visually organize the garden.
-- Homes & Gardens staff
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