This garden is found off a beautiful walking trail in Betts Park that follows the Allegheny River. The garden was designed by a former Master Gardener and friend Bill Blumquist.
You can stop by the Master Gardeners' Demonstration Garden to find a vast amount of native, pollinator-friendly plants as well as the pollinators that come to visit. The beds may look quite messy in parts but the pollinators, like bees and butterflies, love the chaos. In fact, they are so often attracted to the disheveled parts of the garden because it provides shelter as well as a pollen oasis.
If you take a walk through our garden, be sure to look for QR codes to scan with your cellphone. They will help you identify and learn about some of the plants we chose to include in our corner of Betts Park.
Showcased Plants in the Garden
Each of these plants have QR codes on their plant markers. When you are at the garden, take out your smartphone and snap a picture of the QR code squares. You will be directed to an article with loads of information on the plant written by one of our very own Warren County Master Gardeners. Enjoy!! :)
Solomon’s Seal does best in part shade to shade conditions with rich, moist, well-drained soil.
Hellebore foliage is evergreen, forms a low clump with leaves that are lobed and palm-like, and flowers in early spring.
It's silver gray fragrant foliage and lavender flowers make a bold statement in the garden. It attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds whilst avoiding deer and major disease. What a remarkable plant to grow in your own garden.
This plant always garners favorable comments when people notice it, especially in mild winters when the interesting leaves emerge as soon as the ground thaws. It can also be grown as a houseplant which prospers in low winter light, but it will go dormant for the summer.
Spiderwort is a perennial with long green leaves and flowers with three petals that can be white, pink, various shades of purple or blue. This plant grows in the general shape of a mound.
If you have had the pleasure of visiting the Master Gardener’s Demonstration Garden at Betts Park lately you would have noticed a bronze, feathery plant with a smokey hue. This is called the Bronze Fennel (foeniculum vulgare).
With its round shape and thick blue-green leaves curling inward you cannot help but compare to a mouse ear. Very adorable!
