Maybe you’re looking for inspiration for a gardening project. Or maybe you just want to take a walk through a curated garden. Either way, come visit one of our several demonstration gardens! Each of our demonstration gardens showcases research-based gardening practices, is open to the public, and is thoughtfully maintained by our Colorado Master Gardeners. Below, you’ll find a listing of our various demonstration gardens.
The Plant Select Demonstration Garden offers beautiful displays of water-wise plants. This garden is largely composed of Plant Select plants, which are plants that have been selected and tested to thrive in our geographic range and climate. This garden is an excellent example for those wanting to landscape in a way that conserves more water (and allows for less maintenance!).
The Horticulture Research and Demonstration Garden showcases vegetable and fruit production. This garden demonstrates different forms of gardening (such as vertical gardening, square foot gardening, container gardening, raised beds, etc.), which can help a gardener decide on the best method(s) for their own garden. In addition to the numerous varieties of produce grown here, the Horticulture Research and Demonstration Garden also contains several specialized gardens, such as the indigenous garden, the salsa garden, the three sisters, and an herb garden. Furthermore, there is a grape arbor, insectary, compost system, and apiary located within or adjacent to the garden. Produce grown at the Horticulture Research and Demonstration Garden is donated to the Arvada Veggie Van.
The Orchard demonstrates the application of best practice principles of tree fruit production in a small orchard setting, making it easily replicable in a home orchard. Several cultivars of pears, plums, peaches, cherries, and apples are grown in our Orchard. Fruit harvested from these trees is also donated to the Arvada Veggie Van.
The Native Demonstration Garden and Mountain Native Demonstration Garden both feature plants native to the Front Range; however, the Mountain Native Demonstration Garden specifically focuses on plants native to higher elevations. Both gardens celebrate the relationship between native plants, wildlife, and pollinators, and stress the gardens’ minimal needs for water or maintenance.
The Courage Garden is a garden sponsored by Victim Outreach Incorporated and dedicated to innocent victims of crime. This garden features a large diversity of plants, many of which have low water needs. Check out the Courage Garden website to learn more about this garden and its plants.
Coming soon! We are currently working together with Jefferson County Open Space to create a Low-Flammability Demonstration Garden, which will demonstrate low-ignition landscaping within the context of defensible space requirements. For more details about this garden and resources about low-ignition landscaping, click here!
