Nestled in Independence Park, the Sensory Garden is a revamped haven for an observer’s senses ideal for banishing the lockdown blues. After three decades in progress, and after having been taken over by The Herb Society of America three years ago, the garden’s final transformation features nine garden beds–each with the purpose of evoking one of the five senses: sight, touch, smell, taste and sound, and all organized into thematic families, from the English garden herbs of the “Scarborough Fair” bed to the citrus-themed beds of verbena and lemongrass. The ninth and final garden bed completed this past fall celebrates all the fixin’s of Louisiana cuisine, including celery, basil and an unexpected tree-sized okra plant planted, perchance, by a passing bird.

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