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.
There are currently eleven demonstration gardens in an area over 6,000 square feet. 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 gardens dedicated to growing specific types of plants such as herbs, day lilies, and native and pollinator plants.
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. Each plant is labeled to make identification easy and to assist the community in identifying plants suitable for home gardens. They are generally available at local garden centers and nurseries.
To further enhance The Gardens, unique art is featured prominently, most notably a variety of painted benches and garden totems created by the Master Gardeners of Roane County.
The Gardens at Roane County Park are a place of beauty that enrich the lives of visitors. They are often a place for contemplation and reflection, as well as a popular spot for photos that celebrate special occasions and events. Visitors describe it as their “happy place.” Join them, visit often, and enjoy this beautiful place created just for you.
Challenges
The area set aside for The Gardens has presented a number of challenges over the years. As many lakefront residents experience, The Gardens typically flood in the spring when the lake rises to accommodate heavy rains. In contrast, The Gardens suffer from drought conditions in the summer. Plants have to withstand both extremes and only trial and error has shown which ones are adaptable or tough enough to make it. 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 their growing 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 and a pump and timer for the waterfall have improved the ambiance and greatly eased daily maintenance.
The Gardens
There are eleven 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 from year to year as well as perennials, such as Amsonia Blue Ice, Helleborus, Heuchera, Hosta, and Japanese Painted Fern.
Arkansas Bluestar Amsonia, Blue Woodland Phlox, Carolina Lupine, Rattlesnake Master, and Swamp Milkweed are just a few of the plants in the Native Plant Garden.
New in 2020, The Daylily Garden includes eight Stout Award Winners, the highest honor given to a daylily. The growing collection of cultivars demonstrate the variety of color, shape, size, and bloom period in the daylily world.
Surrounding the waterfall, the Rock Garden includes perennials such as purple heart, the carnivorous pitcher plant, daylilies, succulents and grasses, as well as colorful annuals.
There are two berms planted with annuals and perennials such as Brass Buckle Evergreen Shrubs, Shasta Daisy and Silver Anouk Lavender.
New in 2020, the Herb Garden features perennials such as Chamomile, Hyssop, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Sage, Thai Basil and Thyme.
Several different types of hydrangeas are included in the Hydrangea Garden.
The wet area known as The Bog features Copper Iris, Elephant Ears and lots of Cannas plus much more.
Raised Beds were built from flagstone and the color theme of yellow and purple distinguishes this bed. The raised beds protect the plants from animals and create a boundary to the entrance of The Gardens. Yellow Knock-Out Roses, Popcorn Drift Roses, Pugster Blue Dwarf Butterfly bush, and white and purple Superbena Stormburst Verbena form the foundation plantings.
The Sun Garden features sturdy plants that can withstand full sun.
