The Gardens at Roane County Park are demonstration gardens designed to show the community “the art of the possible” for gardening in the local area. In partnership with Roane County Parks and Recreation, the Master Gardeners of Roane County started in 2009 with nothing but a pile of rocks. Over time, The Gardens have evolved to include a series of themed gardens that demonstrate ideas and techniques suitable for the home landscape. The Gardens showcase a wide variety of flowers and plants and gardening techniques based on specific site conditions such as sun, shade, wet and dry conditions.
There are several demonstration gardens for visitors to explore, including an herb garden, a native plant garden, a monarch waystation, a sensory garden, daylilies, irises, rock, shade, container, cinder block, wetland and more. It all started with donated plants from members’ gardens. All the daylilies you will see come from member donations. As years passed, funds became available from our annual plant sale fundraiser on the last Saturday of April. The Gardens have grown as our membership has grown.
From the emergence of daffodils in the spring to the display of brilliant holly berries in winter, plants have been carefully selected so there is something exciting happening in The Gardens throughout the year. Plants are labeled to make identification easy and to assist the community in identifying plants suitable for home gardens. They are usually available at local garden centers and nurseries.
To further enhance The Gardens, unique art is prominently featured. Most notably a variety of garden totems created by the Master Gardeners members. There is also a mail box that has information and a notebook that you can leave a message in.
The Gardens at Roane County Park are a place of beauty that enrich the lives of visitors. The gardens are a place for contemplation and reflection, as well as a popular spot for photos to celebrate special occasions and events plus garden tours. Visitors describe it as their “happy place.” Visit often, and enjoy this beautiful place created just for you.
Challenges
The area set aside for The Gardens has faced a number of challenges over the years. As many lakefront residents experience, The Gardens can flood in the spring when the lake rises from heavy rains. In contrast, The Gardens suffer from drought conditions in the summer. In 2009 there was only a small hose used for watering. When the river was down or equipment was broken, there was no water. In 2018 city water lines were brought to the garden which opened up the opportunity to expand. In 2025 an irrigation system was installed that helps keep all the plants hydrated and eliminated many hours of hand watering. Plants have to withstand extremes and only trial and error show which ones are adaptable enough to thrive. Storms, downed trees, and mud flows have changed the growing conditions from one year to the next. What was shady becomes sunny, and plants must be moved and rearranged to meet requirements. Likewise, trees grow and shade out sun loving plants. The Gardens continually teach the lesson that the only constant is change.
Structure and Hardscape
Supporting the abundance of plants is an underlying hardscape that gives structure and definition to The Gardens. Together with the Parks and Recreation staff and with generous support from local garden centers, landscape companies and nurseries, the Master Gardeners of Roane County have built raised beds, installed paths, repaired bridges, put down stone for flood control, and spread truckloads of mulch. Installation of a water source for irrigation a pump, sprinkler control, and timer have greatly eased daily maintenance.
Before and After
From the hard work and love of Master Gardener volunteers, a plot of weeds, barren soil and rocks has been transformed into fifteen different demonstration gardens for garden lovers and their families from near and far to enjoy.
The Gardens
There are fifteen demonstration gardens showcasing plants used in different environmental conditions as well as for different gardening preferences.
The Shade Gardens include many annual plants that change annually as well as perennials, such as Helleborus, Heuchera, Hosta, Brunnera, Toad Lilies, and Japanese Painted Fern.
Arkansas Bluestar Amsonia, Aster, Echinaea, Liatris, and Swamp Milkweed are just a few of the plants in the Native Plant Garden.
The certified Monarch Waystation officially named “Flutter Hollow” has swamp milkweed, Asclepias Hello Yellow and Tuberosa to name a few.
The Iris Area has many bearded irises in colors ranging from white to pink to dark purple. You will also find two tone varieties such as the rebloomer called Ziggy.
The Daylily Garden includes Stout Award Winners, the highest honor given to a daylily. The growing collection of cultivars demonstrates the variety of color, shape, size, and bloom period in the daylily world. Once daylilies finish their show you can admire beautiful dahlias, phlox, and black-eyed susans.
Surrounding the waterfall, the Rock Garden includes perennials such as purple heart, daylilies, Pyrethium daisy, shield ferns, Louisiana irises as well as colorful annuals.
There are two berms planted with annuals and perennials such as Brass Buckle Evergreen Shrubs, daylilies, and black-eyed susans.
The Herb Garden features perennials such as Golden Oregano, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Sage, Thai Basil and Thyme.
The Hydrangea Garden features the varieties Vanilla Strawberry paniculata and Pinky Winky Panice.
The Wetland area features a dry river bed with a Zuni bowl for water runoff, and water loving plants like yellow twig dogwood, Hibiscus, canna, banana trees and zebra grass.
Raised Beds were built from flagstone and protect the plants from animals and create a boundary to the entrance of The Gardens. Daffodils, Yellow Knock-Out Roses, Popcorn Drift Roses, Pugster Blue Dwarf Buttrfly bushes, Penstemon, balloon flowers, Irises, and hellebores provide a foundation for annual plants that make for a colorful growing season.
The Sun Garden features sturdy plants that can withstand full sun like our beauty berry shrubs and daylilies.
There are several container gardens throughout The Gardens that change annually and seasonally.
The Sensory Garden invites visitors to experience nature through their senses. It is designed to be engaging, especially to children, to see, touch, smell, hear, and connect with the natural world.
Flora our Goddess welcomes all our visitors.
