For gardening enthusiasts and homeowners seeking inspiration, the Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden in Des Moines, Iowa, offers a captivating glimpse into the world of horticulture. This half-acre haven, brimming with over 2,500 diverse plants – from stately trees to delicate annuals – serves as a living laboratory for the editors of Better Homes & Gardens. It’s a place where innovative plant combinations are tested, sustainable gardening practices are showcased, and the latest horticultural trends are unveiled. A visit to the bhg test garden tour is more than just a stroll through beautiful landscapes; it’s an opportunity to gain valuable insights for your own garden.
The Test Garden isn’t simply a pretty display; it’s a dynamic space that evolves with the seasons and reflects the editors’ ongoing research. With 22 distinct garden areas, each meticulously designed, the garden provides a wealth of ideas for landscaping projects across various climates and preferences. Open to the public on Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. (May through September), the garden offers a chance to immerse yourself in plant possibilities and learn from the experts.
A Closer Look at the Test Garden’s Design
From the moment you enter the Test Garden, you’re greeted by a thoughtfully curated collection of plant life. The layout itself is designed to guide visitors through a variety of styles and themes. Starting from the main entrance, a circular path allows for a comprehensive overview of the 22 different garden spaces. Each area is carefully planned to demonstrate plant combinations that can enhance residential landscapes, considering factors like sunlight, soil type, and desired aesthetic.
One of the key principles guiding the Test Garden’s design is the emphasis on showcasing plants suitable for diverse growing conditions. This is particularly important, as gardening success often hinges on selecting plants that thrive in a specific locale. The editors actively test new varieties to determine their hardiness and performance, providing valuable information for readers navigating regional variations in climate and soil. For instance, the garden features a dedicated clay garden, demonstrating plants that flourish in heavy soil – a common challenge for many gardeners. This practical approach makes the bhg test garden tour exceptionally relevant to homeowners facing specific site conditions.
Exploring the 22 Distinct Garden Areas
The Test Garden’s 22 distinct areas offer a fascinating journey through different gardening styles and plant types. Here’s a peek at what awaits visitors:
The Courtyard
This area often features compact shrubs, flowering perennials, and ornamental grasses, ideal for smaller spaces or as a welcoming entry point to a home. It’s a great place to see how to create a visually appealing and low-maintenance garden.
The Rose Garden
Dedicated entirely to roses, this section showcases varieties known for their resilience and continuous blooming without the need for chemical sprays. The editors often test new rose cultivars here, providing insights into disease resistance and fragrance.
The Southwest Terrace Garden
Designed to mimic a warmer climate, the southwest terrace garden features drought-tolerant plants and Mediterranean-style landscaping. It offers inspiration for gardeners in regions with hot, dry summers.
The Shade Garden
For homeowners with shady areas, the shade garden is a treasure trove of information. It features plants that thrive in low-light conditions, including ferns, hostas, and impatiens. The garden demonstrates how to create a lush and vibrant space even where sunlight is limited.
The Fragrant Path
This sensory garden is designed to engage the sense of smell, featuring plants with particularly fragrant blooms and foliage. It’s a wonderful place to experience the aromatic delights of the garden.
The Conifer Collection
Showcasing a wide array of coniferous trees and shrubs, this area highlights their diversity in form, texture, and color. It’s a valuable resource for gardeners seeking evergreen elements in their landscape.
The Clay Garden
As mentioned earlier, this garden specifically addresses the challenges of planting in clay soil. It features plants that are well-adapted to heavy, poorly draining soil, offering solutions for gardeners facing this common issue.
The Garden Room
This area often features a formal design, employing symmetry and repetition to create a sense of structure and elegance. It’s a great example of how to incorporate formal elements into a garden design.
The Meadow
Designed to mimic a natural meadow, this area features native grasses and wildflowers. It highlights the beauty and ecological benefits of incorporating native plants into a landscape. The meadow is a haven for pollinators like bees and butterflies, supporting biodiversity.
The Cutting Garden
Dedicated to flowers grown specifically for cutting, this garden provides inspiration for creating fresh floral arrangements. It features a variety of blooms in different colors and textures, ensuring a continuous supply of cut flowers throughout the growing season.
The Mixed Perennial Garden
This garden showcases a blend of perennial plants that bloom at different times of the year, providing continuous color and interest from spring through fall. It demonstrates how to create a dynamic and visually appealing perennial bed.
The Shrub Walk
This area features a diverse collection of shrubs, showcasing variations in foliage color, texture, and flowering habits. It provides inspiration for using shrubs as structural elements in a landscape.
The Mixed Border
A classic garden design, the mixed border combines a variety of annuals, perennials, and shrubs to create a layered and visually rich display. It demonstrates how to create a cohesive and harmonious garden bed.
The Tool Shed and Storage Area
While not a traditional garden display, this area provides practical inspiration for organizing garden tools and supplies. It shows how to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing storage space.
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The Mixed Conifer and Shrub Garden
This garden combines the architectural interest of conifers with the softer foliage of shrubs. It showcases how to create a balanced and textured landscape using these two plant types.
The Hillside Garden
Designed to address the challenges of planting on a slope, the hillside garden features plants that help to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion. It provides solutions for gardeners with uneven terrain.
The Vegetable and Herb Garden
This area showcases a variety of vegetables and herbs, providing inspiration for creating a productive and beautiful kitchen garden. It highlights companion planting techniques and pest control methods.
The Arbor and Daylily Garden
Featuring an arbor adorned with climbing plants and a collection of daylilies, this garden offers a romantic and visually appealing focal point. It demonstrates how to incorporate arbors into a landscape design.
The Pond and Cascade
This water feature adds a tranquil element to the garden, creating a focal point and attracting wildlife. It showcases the integration of water features into a landscape design.
The Southeast Terrace Garden
Similar to the southwest terrace garden, this area features plants adapted to warmer climates. It offers a different perspective on landscaping for sunny regions.
The Deck
This area demonstrates how to create a comfortable and inviting outdoor living space, incorporating plants that enhance the ambiance of the deck. It showcases the integration of landscaping with outdoor living areas.
The Rock Garden
Designed to mimic a natural rocky environment, the rock garden features plants that thrive in well-drained soil and sunny conditions. It provides inspiration for creating a unique and visually interesting garden feature.
Tips for Recreating a BHG Test Garden Area in Your Own Yard
Inspired by the bhg test garden tour? You can adapt many of the design principles and plant combinations to your own garden. Here are a few tips:
- Assess Your Site Conditions: Before selecting plants, consider your soil type, sunlight exposure, and drainage. The Test Garden’s success lies in its thoughtful consideration of these factors.
- Plan for Functionality: Think about how you want to use the space. Do you need a low-maintenance garden, a cutting garden, or a space for entertaining?
- Embrace Layering: Incorporate plants of varying heights and textures to create visual interest. The mixed border and the mixed conifer and shrub garden are excellent examples of this technique.
- Consider Bloom Times: Choose plants that bloom at different times of the year to ensure continuous color and interest. The mixed perennial garden is a great illustration of this concept.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment: The Test Garden is a place of experimentation, so don’t be afraid to try new things. Start small and see what works best in your garden.
How Does the Test Garden Adapt to Changing Climate Conditions?
The editors of Better Homes & Gardens are keenly aware of the impact of climate change on gardening. The Test Garden actively adapts its displays to reflect changing conditions. For example, they are increasingly incorporating drought-tolerant plants and exploring water-wise landscaping techniques. They also monitor plant performance closely, noting which varieties are proving most resilient to heat waves and altered rainfall patterns. This ongoing research ensures that the Test Garden remains a relevant and informative resource for gardeners facing similar challenges.
The focus on plants that thrive in various conditions, like the clay garden and the southwest terrace garden, directly addresses the need for adaptable landscaping. The editors utilize data on microclimate variations within the garden itself to understand how different plant species respond to localized conditions. This meticulous observation informs their recommendations to readers, empowering them to create resilient and sustainable gardens in their own backyards. The bhg test garden tour is a testament to this commitment to practical, forward-thinking horticulture.
A Final Thought on the BHG Test Garden
The Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden is a valuable resource for gardeners of all levels. It’s a place to gain inspiration, learn new techniques, and discover plants that will thrive in your own yard. Whether you’re planning a major landscaping overhaul or simply looking for ideas to enhance your existing garden, a visit to the bhg test garden tour offers a wealth of knowledge and visual delight.
References
- Better Homes & Gardens website:
