SERRANO SPRING 2023

by JOLAINE COLLINS photos courtesy of UCCE MASTER GARDENERS OF EL DORADO COUNTY

Spring has a way of providing a new sense of purpose for digging in the garden. But before grabbing the trowel, it helps to know the types of plants that thrive in El Dorado County’s climate and soil. Two options for inspiration include strolling through a local demonstration garden and attending classes taught by local Master Gardeners.

Entering the front gate of the Sherwood Demonstration

Garden for the first time, I’m struck by the largeness of the landscaped grounds and the diversity of the well-tended theme gardens.

I’m greeted by Tracy Celio, program coordinator of El Dorado County’s Master Gardener program. She hands me a map and offers a tour of the one-acre site.

We meander through the various gardens, enjoying colors, textures and seasonal fragrances as our sensory walk takes us from drought-tolerant succulents to a natural wetland, through a soil-rich vegetable plot, and then to an orchard planted with stone fruits and citrus trees that exhibit pruning and growing methods.

Opened to the public in 2015, the Sherwood Demonstration Garden offers visitors a chance to explore sustainable gardening practices and learn what grows best in a variety of environments on the El Dorado County western slope.

“If you have a question, you’ll fi nd Master Gardeners at the front kiosk and in the gardens who can point you in the right direction and provide answers,” Celio says. She’s worked for the university system since 2012, helping develop the demonstration garden and its volunteer workforce from the roots up.

A Garden Variety

Each of the 16 theme gardens is an example of best practices developed by the University of California and showcases plants chosen for their ability to thrive in the local region’s zone and climate. Look for signage that indicates water usage, deer resistance and other environmental tips.

ere’s a shade garden planted beneath towering native oaks, an ornamental grass garden with colors and textures that evolve with each season, and a native plant garden featuring low-water varieties that are proven survivors in El Dorado County.

Another low-maintenance, water-wise garden contains plants that look perfectly at home growing among the pebbly soil and rocks common to El Dorado Hills.

“ e gardens are intended to be both beautiful and educational for the community,” says Celio. “ ere’s a variety of practical, sustainable plant choices, and we offer pointers for people looking for new ideas and inspiration.”

For those who love flowers, there’s a

“The gardens are intended to be both beautiful and educational for the community,” says Tracy Celio. “There’s a variety of practical, sustainable plant choices, and we o er pointers for people looking for new ideas and inspiration.” perennial garden highlighted by rare and unusual varieties, and a classic rose garden that showcases climbing roses, hybrid teas, grandifloras and floribundas surrounding a gazebo.

Don’t miss the cottage garden, planted with annuals and perennials that reach colorful peaks in spring and summer. Celio points to a bench in the cottage garden. It is one of several spots where visitors stop to enjoy this restful haven, sometimes sharing a cup of coffee or tea with a friend.

In the spring and summer, birds, bees and butterflies are attracted to the butterfly garden with its milkweed, nectar sources and sheltering plants. e environment serves as a waystation for the threatened Monarch butterfly in all stages of its lifecycle.

“All of these gardens have their own show-stopping season, as well as times that they rest. I recommend visiting each season to experience all the stages,” says Celio.

The Garden’s Namesake, Inspiration

Gardeners seeking inspiration and tranquility will appreciate the path leading to a traditional wooden bridge in the Japanese garden. Designed and created by the late Bob Sherwood, one of El Dorado County’s most inspired Master Gardeners, the bridge is a driving force behind the county’s demonstration garden. A copper-trimmed Japanese tea house overlooks a small pond surrounded by stones, while a variety of flowering azaleas, grasses, maple, pine and dogwood trees offer peaceful vignettes in all directions.

On a more playful note, the children’s garden features interactive experiences, including a potting bench built by local Scouts. ere are kid-friendly sunflowers and topiaries, fuzzy lamb’s ear plants to touch, colorful vegetables to taste, and dwarf trees with fruit that’s within reach for little hands.

Master Gardeners Provide Time, Talent

e Sherwood Demonstration Garden is managed by 160 Master Gardeners who volunteer thousands of hours each year to care for individual gardens, build garden structures and manage the composting program. ey’ve completed eight weeks of research-based training and a one-year internship at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden before becoming volunteers. e next Master Gardener training program begins in January 2024.

“Our gardens are 100 percent built and maintained by the time, talent and sweat of our volunteers,” says Celio.

One of those volunteers is garden coordinator Sheri Burke, who’s turning the soil in an annual garden plot on the day I visited. She’s worked at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden since its inception, transforming pastureland and thorny blackberry bushes into thriving garden plots. She calls herself a “plant addict” who enjoys sharing what she’s learned as a Master Gardener, including plant propagation, sustainable gardening and healthy soil maintenance.

“Gardening feeds the soul,” Burke says. “I’d rather dig a hole than sit in an office.”

For those who’d like to get deeper into gardening but don’t have the time to become a Master Gardener, the Sherwood Demonstration Garden offers free classes taught by Master Gardeners, a spring plant sale and monthly garden tours—all with plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

“ ere’s something here for everyone,” says Celio as we say goodbye at the garden gate.

Things To Know and G row

Things To Know And Grow

● Sherwood Demonstration Garden: 6699 Campus Drive, Placerville; mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/demonstra tion_garden

● Park in the Folsom Lake College lot.

● Entry is free. Dogs are not allowed.

● Open Fridays and Saturdays, March through November, 9 a.m. to noon, and subject to rain and high temperatures.

● First Saturday garden tours begin at 9 a.m. Look for beekeeping tips by the El Dorado Beekeepers using hives kept on the prop erty, and planetary exploration at the adjacent Community Obser vatory. There are free, year-round classes led by UC Master Gardeners at Sherwood Demonstration Garden and at local community centers. Topics range from composting to growing tomatoes. See website for details. The spring plant sale at the demonstration garden on April 15 and April 29 features shrubs, trees, ornamental grasses, fruit trees and vegetables. Proceeds help fund the garden’s ongoing operations.

“Our gardens are 100 percent built and maintained by the time, talent and sweat of our volunteers,”