By Martha Keehner Engelke, EMG volunteer
Looking for a break from the hectic holiday season? A visit to the Durham County Extension Demonstration Garden (DG) may be just what you need. Most people don’t visit gardens in the winter. Spring, summer, and even fall are the seasons for beautiful blooms and brilliant colors. Winter gardens are mostly dormant and a little uninteresting. The DG was prepared for winter on the last workday of the year by master gardener volunteers. But, there is one feature of the DG that makes it a great destination even in the winter—amazing plant identification tags.
Pictures Taken by Allie Mullin, EMG volunteer, November 16, 2023
Plant tags in a garden are nothing new. Many home gardeners use plant tags to help them remember what to plant each season and to mark areas where they have bulbs or other plants that are not visible once they are planted. Most botanical gardens and public gardens have plant tags to guide visitors through the garden. The features that makes the plant tags in the DG stand out is that they are informative, weather proof, and they include QR Codes linked to the North Carolina Plant Toolbox https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/
According to Joan Barber, the chair of the Demonstration Garden Committee, several questions had to be addressed prior to installing the plant tags. The first question was “What information would be included?” Any information had to be evidence based and verified for accuracy by members of the committee and Ashley Troth, the Durham County Extension Agent.
The plant tags display the common name; scientific name; cultivar, if known; range designation; family and QR Code. All visitors have to do is scan the QR Code with their smart phone and it will direct them to the NC Extension Plant Toolbox.
Another major concern related to the permanence of the plant tags. They had to be sturdy to withstand the weather and deter vandalism. The final design included aluminum stakes with etched writing that wouldn’t be erased in the rain. The signs are made by a professional sign company and have held up well over the last 2 years. As more plants are added, the budget for the demonstration garden includes funds for additional plant tags.
The plant tags foster learning experiences and engagement throughout the year. Thinking about what you might plant in the spring? The DG is available to help you find plants that do well in the area and the connection to the Toolbox allows you to evaluate the cultural conditions needed by the plant.
A plant like Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica ‘Ragin Cajun’) looks pretty uninteresting in the winter but by connecting to the Plant Toolbox, the gardener can expect a different experience in the spring when it’s red and yellow blooms are an attraction for hummingbirds.
Looking for a brightly colored native plant for your pollinator garden? You might not consider marsh blazing star (Liatris spicata) if you saw it in the winter but a link to the Plant Toolbox might convince you not only of its beauty in the summer but you will be able to determine if your garden has the best soil, space, and light for success.
So what else might be fun in the DG in the winter? How about a scavenger or a trivia quiz with your friends or your children? Scavenger hunts are fun for many age groups and can be enjoyed by the whole family. You can search for a particular plant in the garden or use your cell phone to search for characteristics of plants. Here is a simple example, but the possibilities are limitless! Demo-Garden-Scavenger-HuntDownload
In 2019, the vision for the DG was to develop a unique, widely-recognized city garden that welcomes and inspires visitors with innovative displays, practices, and programs. One of the innovations that makes this vision a reality is the incorporation of informative plant ID tags. The DG is truly a four season garden that is available to the community as a respite or an educational opportunity. So, grab a coat or sweater depending on the weather and visit the Durham County Demonstration Garden!
Resources
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/
North Carolina Extension Demonstration Gardens. https://extensiongardener.ces.ncsu.edu/nc-cooperative-extension-demonstration-gardens/
Ann Watkins (2023) Freedom Demo Garden Plant Signs and Plant Tags. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-Sg-o558pqqG3v_-u-3fwuEaHvK9_ifM/view at NC Extension Demonstration Gardens.
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