by Tess Wolfe
Reporter
Munroe Falls -- Members of the local chapter of the American Council of the Blind of Ohio are planning to build a "Five Senses Garden" on property near Munroe Falls City Hall.
Mayor Frank Larson said the purpose of the garden is to provide individuals with disabilities an opportunity to get closer to the flowers and plants it contains than typically is possible.
"They want to have some raised beds so people in wheelchairs can reach, smell, touch and feel the garden," he said. "We're going to plan on expanding it, little by little."
The effort will be spearheaded by resident Lynne Krumm, president of Eye on Summit, the local chapter of the American Council of the Blind of Ohio, with cooperation from city officials, the Munroe Falls Garden Club and Denise Ellsworth, coordinator of the Master Gardener Program at The Ohio State University Summit County Extension.
"I have friends who are totally blind that garden by feel," said Krumm, who is also visually impaired herself.
She provided the example of a plant that, because of its texture, has fuzz that feels like a lamb's ear to the touch, which she said may be a good candidate to plant in the Five Senses Garden.
"Part of the reason we wanted to do this garden is to show that [members of Eye On Summit] are a can-do group, even if we do things a little differently," said Krumm. "Yes, you're losing your vision, but life goes on. It's little adaptations. If your field of vision is narrow, you put your hand down to space the plants. With my failed vision, I have a bright orange shovel in the hole I've just dug to leave it as a marker."
After contacting the Munroe Falls Garden Club, Krumm and Ellsworth met with clubmembers May 7 to walk around the city property near Munroe Falls City Hall, 43 Munroe Falls Ave., and the Children's Community Garden, said Krumm.
"I was flabbergasted they were willing to let us pick whatever spot we wanted to," Krumm said. "It will be by the peace pole in a 6-foot diameter space. I began to dream of this with the support of the Munroe Falls Garden Club, Mayor Larson and Denise."
Flowers and plants for the garden will be provided by Eye on Summit, the Munroe Falls Garden Club and others. The city is providing the site for the garden, which is on city property, as well as mulch and compost, said Krumm.
"We're probably going to wait to start until the weather lets up," she added.
The 10 members of Eye on Summit hope to build another garden plot around the nearby Japanese maple tree on city property, then connect the two garden beds with a path with a bench placed alongside it, Krumm said.
"It's an approachable garden," she said. "People won't be saying, 'Don't touch.' It will be inviting."
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