- Author: Betty Victor
A visit to the Grass Valley, Nevada City area a few weeks ago gave us the chance to see the UCCE master gardens of Nevada County demonstration garden in Grass Valley. We had heard about this garden from Sherry Richards, who was a Master Gardener in Grass Valley when she lived in that area. She now is one of our UCCE Master Gardeners- Solano County.
This garden in on an acre of land that the Nevada County Irrigations Department is letting the Master Gardeners use for this garden. Nevada County Irrigation also supplies the water free of charge to them.
As you walk down on a slight hill to the garden, you see different areas of plants, trees and landscaped paths that the Master Gardeners have work in. Each section seemed to me to be devoted to different plants. Most have stakes in front of them with the name of the plant you are looking at.
One garden has a vine covered arbor with a bench; I was surprised to see growing in this garden is a small red Japanese maple tree that grows in the sun according to the tag on it.
There is an orchard with a small fig tree being espaliered and some apple trees growing as well. Also an area of oak trees, I wondered if that was an oak habitat. A large grape vine was growing on a covered structure.
Behind an enclosed screened area which you can walk through. But before you do that-there is a warning at the entrance- a sign- to look but do not take any of the produce or flowers that are growing. Most plants were growing in containers. On this sign it says “the garden is not a public or community garden for harvesting anything other than ideas”. The vegetables that are grown in this area are donated to the local food bank.
On the outside of this screened area, there was a border with a sign that said “Rockery Garden”, inside this border there are small to medium size rocks with succulents and native plants growing- all drought tolerant, needing full sun and deer resistant.
Tucked behind a small building there are 2 chairs and a table for relaxing, maybe after a hard day's work.
A large covered structure with a cement floor featuring a sign on it that says “Nevada County Master Gardeners, U.C. Cooperative Extension Demonstration Garden, Nevada Irrigation District”. You can't miss the inside where there was a long bench that looked to be the ideal place to hold their many garden demonstrations for the public.
From what I saw, it looks to be a real cooperation between Nevada City Irrigation local business's and the Master Gardeners. There is a large shed with individual signs that have the names of all the major donors who have helped this garden.
Because of the time of year we visited, not many things were in bloom. Yet I could see the love and devotion from all who have a part in this to make this garden what it is and what more it will be.