UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County’s Demonstration Garden Spotlight: A Peek Behind the Scenes In the Raised Bed Garden
Photos and article by Karen Mead, UC Master Gardener of Nevada County
From The Curious Gardener, Summer 2026
The UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County’s Demonstration Garden has 1.5 acres of gardens to experience, explore and enjoy during open hours! Witness pollinators at work, surround yourself with nature’s beauty and inhale hints of lingering sweet and spicy plant fragrances…Plan on enough time to slowly meander through the delightful display of specialty gardens, as follows:
- Oak Habitat and Native Plant Meadow
- Foothill Mediterranean Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Rock Garden
- Orchard
- Evergreen Edge
- Pergola Peace Garden
- Raised Bed Garden
Aside from the “Kodak moment” inspirations from gazing at a multitude of blooming plants and greenery as one looks into the Raised Bed Garden compound, (the garden enclosure is only open to the public when UC Master Gardeners are present), there is a sense of glimpsing “behind the scenes” as well. Indeed, for this is the heart of one of the workcenters for the UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County! The Hoop House is located within the enclosure, just beyond the raised beds and is a large, 522 square foot, structure also known as a “high tunnel...a semi-permanent structure that acts similarly to a greenhouse in providing a controlled environment.” A hoop house provides shelter for plants, especially newly-grown seedlings, from weather elements as well as altering the temperature and humidity, and typically has an extensive network of propagation “benches” to grow, maintain and shelve plants, stock supplies and to provide work surfaces. The UC Master Gardeners use their hoop house to extend the spring and fall seasons to facilitate plant propagation and production for the raised beds and the annual spring plant-sale fundraiser. An outdoor, open-sided, shaded, propagation bench equipped with a drip-irrigation system is also located within the enclosure. UC Master Gardeners use this primarily for staging plants and to shelter plants propagated from cuttings and divisions, up-potted rootstock clones and grafts, and up-planted seedlings so as to harden-off or acclimate the plants from a more protected environment to an outdoor setting. Additionally, a compost area is conveniently located near the workcenter and centrally to the various gardens. Garden waste is collected, broken down and decomposed into a nutrient-rich soil amendment available for use within the demonstration garden.
The Raised Bed Garden houses a variety of predominantly perennial plants. Perennial flowers with a sprinkling of native plants and ornamental poppies inhabit one raised bed, while two other beds host “trial” plants under observation for possible future use. Vegetables and lesser-known tomato varieties occupy one trial bed and utilize a cover crop over the winter to return nitrogen to the soil and practice IPM (Integrated Pest Management). The second trial bed contains long-term perennials for non-hybrid and non-patented seed collection to be donated to the local seed library and Banner Grange seed swap. A bed for various lavender (Lavandula) species is in the works and a newly-constructed, replacement raised bed is waiting for soil and plants. The flourishing “mother plant” raised bed is composed of fabric-bagged perennials essential to providing rootstocks, cuttings or pups for genetically identical “daughter” plants. The last two raised containers and small, square raised bed are dedicated to growing children-friendly plants and flowers suitable for drying to be used in children’s crafts..
The demonstration garden is an on-going project by the UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County to display and share UC research-based gardening knowledge with the community. Our focus is on plants that will thrive in our climate. The garden workcenter is key to accomplishing this goal but not all home gardeners have a hoop house to facilitate propagation! Take charge and search topics provided by UC ANR (UC Agriculture and Natural Resources) and UC Master Gardeners, such as Plant Propagation for Home Gardeners: A Comprehensive Guide or experience a free workshop hosted by your local UC Master Gardener organization!
References:
Farr, Jim. Over the Fence: Plant Propagation for Home Gardeners: A Comprehensive Guide. November 18, 2024. ucanr.edu.
https://ucanr.edu/blog/over-fence-alameda-county/article/plant-propagation-home-gardeners-comprehensive
guide#:~:text=Layering%20involves%20rooting%20a%20part,for%20propagation%20from%20cut%20stems.
Lorenson, Lynn. “The Curious Gardener:” The Secret Garden in Nevada County. Spring, 2011. ucanr.edu.
https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-placer-county/article/secret-garden-nevada-county
Nevada County Library. News Flash: The Seed Library is Back! August 10, 2024. nevada countyca.gov.
https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=7743&ARC=10073
UC ANR. UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County. Demonstration Garden. n.d. ucanr.edu.
https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-nevada-county/demonstration-garden-0
UC ANR. Demonstration Garden: About the Garden. 2026. ucanr.edu.
https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-nevada-county/demonstration-garden
UC ANR. Hoop House and Propagation Bench Measurements. June 7, 2021. ucanr.edu.
https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2022-11/376977.pdf
UC ANR. UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County. Workshops and Special Events. 2026. ucanr.edu.
https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-nevada-county/workshops-and-special-events
Enclosed raised bed area with shaded outdoor propagation bench and hoop house.
Inside hoop house view (from right corner) showing plant abundance for May, 2026, plant sale.
Inside hoop house view (from left corner) showing plant abundance for May, 2026, plant sale.