THE COURT: A GARDEN WITHIN REACH
One of the first gardens visitors typically wander into, The Court: A Garden Within Reach was created as a response to the Garden’s need for greater education on and support of universally accessible gardening. Designed as a sensory garden with a strong focus on sustainability, the garden features raised beds and planters that allow people with limited mobility to enjoy its many fragrant and tactile plants. The Living Wall, found closest to the doors to the Visitor’s Center, is designed each year with high contrast in mind to appeal to guests with impaired vision. The tiered fountain and newly planted grasses near the ash tree (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) also provide an auditory element to the garden.
Plantings in this garden change drastically from year to year, guaranteeing visitors something new each time they visit. Perennials line the perimeter and the bed under the ash tree. Plants like clethra, oak leaf hydrangea, and echinacea, as well as several types of ferns and native grasses can be found here. In the spring, the raised beds are filled with over a thousand blooming tulips, and the ash bed boasts several hundred daffodils, alliums, and crocuses.
In addition to offering high visual contrast, two Living Walls provide the only examples of vertical gardening at the Garden. These features demonstrate the possibilities of gardening for those with limited space or with limited mobility. Learn more about Living Walls.
This space is named for Robert Courtemanche, who was a generous supporter of the Garden beginning in the late 1990s. He was the largest donor to the funding campaign behind The Court: Garden Within Reach, believing in its goal of bringing all people closer to nature. We are also thankful for the guidance and financial support of the Massachusetts Cultural Council and of our many foundation and individual donors who contributed to making this garden a reality.
