The UC Master Gardeners of Butte County announced on Apr. 13 that the Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch Museum is open for spring visitors, offering a variety of plants, wildlife viewing opportunities, and upcoming workshops. The garden, located at 10381 Midway, welcomes guests on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm.
The Demonstration Garden serves as an educational resource for local residents interested in sustainable gardening practices suited to the Butte County climate. Fourteen specialized areas feature shrubs, fruit trees, drought-tolerant plants, succulents, vegetables, and an heirloom almond orchard. Visitors can explore these sections while observing bees, birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.
A range of drought-tolerant flowering shrubs are currently in bloom near the entrance. Plants such as Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron) with bright yellow flowers and white-flowering Rockrose (Cistus hybridus) are highlighted for their suitability to local conditions with limited water needs after establishment. Other notable features include Pincushion flowers (Scabiosa atropurpurea), Coronation Yarrow (Achillea ‘Coronation’), Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea), Siskiyou Blue Fescue grass (Festuca), Silver Carpet ground cover (Stachys byzantine), and a newly replanted Herb Garden featuring twelve varieties of herbs.
Educational programming continues with free workshops through May on topics such as irrigation systems, weed identification and control methods, plant propagation techniques, bird-friendly gardening practices, and bat habitats. Registration is required for all sessions via the workshop webpage. Additionally, a plant sale is scheduled for Saturday May 16 from 9 am to noon at the Demonstration Garden; plants offered have been propagated by UC Master Gardeners of Butte County specifically for success in local gardens.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County operate within University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). UC ANR secures funding through public contributions to support its programs according to the official website. The organization promotes sustainable practices designed to strengthen resilient ecosystems alongside economic vitality according to the official website. It utilizes nine research and extension centers representing California’s diverse ecosystems according to the official website.
UC ANR has gained recognition for trusted services linking research directly with community needs according to the official website, manages Cooperative Extension services within the University of California system according to the official website, conducts more than thirty-three thousand educational events annually and engages over eighteen thousand volunteers in its initiatives according to the official website.
