The Hollinshead Park gardens in Bend, Oregon include a community garden and a water-wise garden.
Hollinshead Park Gardens – Community Garden
The community garden at Hollinshead Park is managed by a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University Extension Service, Central Oregon Master Gardener Association, and Bend Park and Recreation District.
Local gardeners grow fruit, vegetables, and flowers on 90 reserved plots.
Gardeners plant in concise or freeform patterns. Some use various supports or covers.
It’s a great place to take pictures throughout the year.
You can see pale green wall-of-water plant protectors in the foreground below. They help protect the plants from freezing temperatures.
The flowers in bloom can change from week to week.
This looks like a very healthy zucchini plant.
The community gardens are scattered throughout Bend and nearby towns. In fact, they are so popular some use a lottery system to select potential gardeners.
Hollinshead Water-wise Garden
The Hollinshead Water-wise Garden focuses on landscaping plants that require less water. This garden is supported by the same organizations as the community garden, plus the City of Bend.
I like how plants are clearly labeled in this garden. Seeing these plants in person can help you decide if you want them in your yard.
This weeping Norway spruce was huge! We have one in our front yard.
I always think of Spirea as a plant for wetter environments, but there are varieties that do well with less water.
If you’re looking for a variety of scents in your garden, you can check out fragrant plants as well.
You can find more examples of plants that grow well in Central Oregon at the Extension Service Garden at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, Oregon. The Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Madras also has labeled plants.