Kennewick Demonstration Garden Showcases Plants

Master Gardeners Maintain Three Colorful Acres in Washington City

Jul 22, 2009 Cheryl Probst

Colorful flowers, shrubs, water ways and vegetables adorn the Demonstration Garden which covers three acres of Grange Park's 26 acres in south Kennewick, Washington.

Master Gardeners of Benton and Franklin counties volunteer their efforts to keep the garden in top form. Master Gardeners is a program sponsored by the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Service which trains volunteers in all aspects of gardening, including how to solve gardening problems and assist people with their gardens.

The garden is dubbed “The Place to Grow.” This is an apt nickname as the garden grows hundreds of varieties of plants.

Kennewick Demonstration Garden Boasts Variety of Specialty Gardens

It contains many examples of gardens, ranging from a water garden to a Japanese garden to a high desert garden featuring this area’s unique soils and climate. Other gardens feature roses, herbs and composting. There’s even a vegetable garden, filled with a variety of vegetable plants, including rhubarb, cucumbers and heirloom tomatoes. A sign asks visitors not to pick the ripe vegetables as all produce grown in the garden is donated to local food banks.

Demonstration Garden Has Paved Walkways to Accommodate Wheel Chairs

The garden is handicapped-accessible with about a mile of paved walkways weaving through the park. There are benches and gazebos so visitors can sit awhile and enjoy the garden’s ambiance. Signs are plentiful on this self-guided tour. Additionally, there are tennis courts, a soccer field and children’s wading pool at the north end of Grange Park, which is owned by the City of Kennewick. Donations provide funding for the garden, with master gardeners supplying the volunteer labor.

Master gardeners can frequently be seen working the plot. The volunteers are available to help visitors identify plants and answer any gardening questions they have.

Demonstration Garden Sets Goals

According to the Washington State University’s Cooperative Extension Service website, the goals of this demonstration garden include:

Demonstrating the species and varieties of trees, shrubs and plants which can be grown in this area.
Giving home gardeners ideas for landscaping their own yards and gardens.
Showing how to properly maintain and care the different types of plants.
Serving as a teaching, learning and test facility for gardening techniques.

Master gardeners offer classes at the Demonstration Garden. Interested people can call the office at (509) 735-3551 for more information. Gardeners who want to participate in the master gardener program can get more information at that number, also.

DemonstrationGarden Located in South Kennewick, WA

Kennewick’s Demonstration Garden is located at 1600 S. Union Street, adjacent to the main branch of the Mid-Columbia Library system. It is open daily from dawn to dusk. Parking is available in the library’s lot.

The copyright of the article Kennewick Demonstration Garden Showcases Plants in Landscaping is owned by Cheryl Probst. Permission to republish Kennewick Demonstration Garden Showcases Plants in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Demonstration Garden Has Water Garden	Plants Which Thrive in Mid-Columbia	Produce from Vegetable Garden Donated to Food Bank
Demonstration Garden is Bloomin' Colorful	Japanese Garden at Kennewick Park