Last-minute preparations are currently ongoing for the grand opening of Sherwood Demonstration Garden, the crown jewel of the UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County.  This event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so mark your calendars.  There is no entrance fee, parking is free and the garden is open to all. The location is behind the El Dorado Center of Folsom Lake College on Campus Drive in Placerville. 

The impressive demonstration garden was the brainchild of Bob Sherwood, a long-time UCCE Master Gardener volunteer, who envisioned a place for the public to learn about research-based home gardening techniques and practices with outdoor classes and hands-on demonstrations. Bob spent countless hours searching our county for just the right location and in 2009, in cooperation with the El Dorado County Office of Education and Folsom Lake College, El Dorado Center, broke ground on what is now the Sherwood Demonstration Garden.  Bob passed away unexpectedly last fall before realizing his dream of a garden open to the public. The UCCE Master Gardener Program pledged to honor his legacy by continuing to work towards a grand opening as soon as possible. It took a little over a year for project completion, but the UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County are proud to announce the opening of its new demonstration garden this weekend.

On Saturday visitors will have the opportunity to tour all 16 themed garden, including:  All Stars, Bog, Butterfly, Children's, Cottage, Japanese, Mediterranean, Orchard, Ornamental Grasses, Native, Perennial, Rock, Rose, Shade, Succulent and Vegetable. 

UCCE Master Gardener volunteers will be onsite and available in each garden to answer questions and explain how and why a particular garden was planted, what kind of irrigation is used in each, facts about specific plants chosen, pest management practices, and more. A very limited quantity of plants will be available for sale (no credit cards; cash or checks only) and there will be treasure hunt prizes. Free refreshments will also be available. 

UCCE Master Gardeners are very excited to showcase this garden and we hope to see many of you present on Oct 3.  It's going to be fun! For more information about this garden go to the UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County website at http://ucanr.edu/edmg. 

 

 

Do you have a garden or event you would like featured on the statewide UC Master Gardener Program blog? E-mail: mgwomack@ucanr.edu