We believe that the old cultivars have a potential for use in the restoration of old gardens, in the construction of new gardens, and in future plant breeding programmes. We therefore try to encourage the use of these traditional ornamentals in present-day gardens by distributing some of them to both private persons with affection for gardening or garden

restoration and to commercial nurseries for propagation and sale. We hope that these historical plants can be cultivated and cared for in the years to come. Our main objectives have thus been to save old ornamentals from extinction, to make our horticultural heritage known to the public, and to introduce old cultivars in today’s horticulture and encourage their use in present-day gardens. Why a sensory garden? Alpelisib concentration A garden with a variety of forms, colours, and scents stimulates many senses and old-fashioned plants and traditional garden elements may evoke pleasant emotions in people. In people suffering from dementia, sensory gardens can bring out long-forgotten memories and stimulate communication with other people (Kaplan and Kaplan 1989; Berentsen et al. 2007). A sensory garden thus Gemcitabine offers people with BIIB057 in vivo dementia and their companions a positive, shared experience, regardless of whether the person with dementia still lives at home or in a

nursing home. Sensory gardens are therefore used more and more in the therapy of people with dementia (Berentsen et al. 2007). We realised that our collections of traditional ornamentals could be an excellent basis for establishing the Adenosine first Norwegian public sensory garden for people with dementia. In 2005, we discussed the sensory garden idea with GERIA, The Resource centre for Dementia and Psychiatric Care

of the Elderly in the City of Oslo. They were very positive to the idea and have given us valuable advice for the design of Great-granny’s Garden as a sensory garden and have also made a substantial contribution to its funding. In return, we produce selected historical plants for sensory gardens at local nursing homes in Oslo each year and take part in sensory garden educational programmes and public relation activities. Sensory garden elements The most important sensory garden element is a secure, closed garden room, surrounded by fences or shrubs (Fig. 1). It is also important to have a paved and easy to follow round-walk that leads back to the starting point (Fig. 2) so that people with dementia can walk on their own without getting lost. Of course, it is also important to have a variety of stimulating colours, forms, and scents. Some traditional garden elements, like a gazebo, a water pump, and several benches (Fig. 3), contribute to a nice sensory garden atmosphere. Fig. 1 The sensory garden is enclosed by a picked fence and by shrubs. Photo: Dag Inge Danielsen Fig. 2 The sensory garden has a paved and easy to follow round-walk. Photo: Ane S. Guldahl Fig.