The garden was started on October 22, 1996 as a special volunteer project for "Make A Difference Day." A crew of 21 volunteers, ranging from age 5 to over 70, broke ground with shovels, rakes, and hoes. This "motley crew" included:
- 3 Audio-Reader staff members and their children
- 3 Audio-Reader listeners and two guide dogs
- several Audio-Reader volunteers
- and a handful of Kansas University students who were eager to help with this special project (with a working budget of zero).

All of the plants were donated by Audio-Reader volunteers and a few local garden centers. After many hours of toil, a kidney-bean shaped garden bed emerged, boasting more than 100 bulbs and a variety of other fragrant and tactile plants. A stone bench was also donated by a volunteer. Several Audio-Reader listeners helped make the braille plant markers, and the garden bed was edged with bricks salvaged from the old Audio-Reader garage.

This ambitious garden project was submitted to the national "Make A Difference Day" foundation and this effort was designated a "local honoree." The garden was subsequently mentioned in the USA Weekend magazine and in the Lawrence Journal-World.

In the spring of 1997, an oval-shaped raised bed was added to the garden area, thanks to donations and labor from more volunteers. The Wal-mart Green Team financed the purchase of a second stone bench and a local garden club donated two fragrant rose bushes.

In the summer of 1998, more interesting plants were added. A bird feeder, bird bath, wind chimes, and even a gazebo were donated by generous volunteers.

Some of the original garden crew. October '96

The first concrete bench is wheeled down the hill to the garden site. October '96

It takes a lot of hands to push these things around. October '96

Diana Frederick and Listener/Volunteer Kim Morrow tell KCTV's Steve Dawson about the garden for a Channel 5 news feature. August '98

Kim points out the Lamb's Ear. August '98

The bird bath, fountain, and several feeders encourage bird visits. Spring '02