District Demonstration Gardens
Utilizing grant funding from the National Association of Conservation Districts, the District is in the process of creating eight different demonstration gardens right here in our multi-use parking lot! Starting this spring, the District will provide free workshops for residents, businesses, and municipalities focused on building healthy soils, managing stormwater, increasing wildlife habitat, preventing erosion, increasing food production, and many other conservation practices that can be applied to yards, commercial spaces, and public lands. Each workshop will focus on one or two of the demonstration gardens so attendees can learn more about the garden before going outside to meet the plants and practice using tools, installation methods, and maintenance methods.
Interested? Attend one (or all!) of our workshops, bring your favorite pair of gardening gloves, and get your hands dirty in our demonstration gardens!
Demonstration gardens include:
Bioswales - A bioswale is a shallow channel with tall and dense grasses and perennial flowers. They are often located next to roadways and parking lots. They slow down stormwater runoff to help filter out pollutants and allow water to soak into the ground.
Cover Crops - Cover crops are planted to improve soil conditions between crop plantings and to prevent soil erosion. Cover crops should be composted into the soil to increase soil organic matter, nutrients, moisture capacity, reduce compaction, and help suppress some pests and weeds.
Groundcover Plants - A groundcover is a low-growing plant with dense foliage, typically spreading wider than they are tall. They provide topsoil with a layer of protection which helps prevent erosion, controls weeds, and reduces maintenance activities like mowing and watering.
Pollinator Gardens - A pollinator garden is planted with native flowering perennials and shrubs that support wildlife by mimicking their natural habitat. To attract as many pollinators as possible, plants are picked to offer flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colors from early spring through late fall. This garden also includes habitat support features like shelter and water.
Rain Gardens - A rain garden is a shallow depression that is filled with moisture-tolerant plants to collect, treat, and absorb stormwater. They help prevent localized flooding and erosion, intercept pollutants, and provide habitat for wildlife.
Raised Beds - A raised bed garden increases gardening accessibility and food production. They can be used to customize soils to desired crops, improve crop drainage, reduce weeds, and extend the growing season.
Salt-Tolerant Gardens - A salt-tolerant garden uses plants that tolerate salt spray and soils with high salt content such as coastal regions and along roads, parking lots, and sidewalks. Many salt-tolerant plants are also drought-resistant, tolerant of poor soil quality, and assist in shoreline stabilization.
Vertical Gardens - A vertical garden can be plants that naturally grow very tall or vines supported by a vertical structure, such as a trellis or a lattice. This is an ideal garden type for those focused on space-saving options or looking to transform unused vertical space. They can also help insulate buildings, reduce noise pollution, provide passive cooling, and increase food production.