Sehmel Garden.

Demonstration
gardens

A showcase for gardening techniques
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Outdoor classrooms in Pierce County

Master Gardener and kids reading a gardening book

Experience sustainable gardening firsthand in our outdoor classroom gardens. Master Gardeners showcase techniques like water-wise landscaping, native plants, knot gardens, raised veggie beds, composting, containers, espaliered fruit trees, and berry patches through engaging classes and workshops.

WSU Puyallup Demonstration Garden

Location & Hours of Operation

Open to the Public:
Tuesdays & Saturdays
from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm March through October
We have Master Gardeners on-site

Address:
2607 W. Pioneer Avenue
Puyallup, WA 98371

Puyallup Demo Garden map
Wooden bench in the garden.

Come, grab a chair and relax!

Located across the street from the WSU Research and Extension Center, our demonstration garden is a fun stop to tour a working garden.
You can attend our free Saturday Garden Talks or just walk through and see what we’ve got growing.

Points of interest:

Various metal and wooden raised garden beds filled with produce.

Urban Edibles garden

We study and demonstrate old and new gardening practices in small urban spaces, that best preserve the soil and earth. Our wide variety of edible plants grown are all donated to local food banks.
Multiple large composting bins with a teal shed with a sign that says, "Welcome to the Compost Demonstration Garden."

Composting demonstration area

Learn practical home garden options to produce compost and minimize yard waste to landfills.
Colorful wooden archway leading to a whimsical garden filled with colorful flowers.

Children’s garden

Free your imagination and explore our Magical Forest, Giant’s House, Pirate Ship, Secret Garden and marvel at unusual Dr. Seussical plants. We offer children’s programs Spring-Autumn! Check out our youth gardening page for more info.
An artistic metal bee mounted to a post in front of a wall of flowers.

Pollinator garden

New in 2024! The pollinator garden includes educational displays with information about various solitary bees, plants the support pollinators, and a bee housing block. This year we celebrated National Pollinator Week with the opening of this new garden area.
Wood chip path amongst various fern plants leading to a green wooden gate.

Shade Fern garden

Reliant on form and texture. Dappled light and shadows add to its ambiance, encouraging reflection of one’s surroundings. Our shade fern garden showcases a variety of specifies that grow well in lower light.
Three raised garden beds on a paved surface with a wall of trees behind.

Accessible garden beds

Raised garden beds to eliminate and minimize stooping, bending, and reaching. Come see how you can set-up an accessible garden bed at your own home, community garden, or facility.
Concrete bench nestled in a garden bed.

Four Seasons garden

Fill your garden with foliage, flowers, and shape all year long. This area is the perfect place to see how to plant with spring, summer, fall, and winter in mind.
Large stone pathway with vines and trees flanking each side.

Great Plant Picks garden

Exhibits plants from the Great Plant Picks program. It is a list of out-standing ornamental plants for the maritime Pacific Northwest gardens.
Small foot bridge leading to a conifer garden.

Conifer garden

Small conifers and maples surround plants that thrive in a dry climate.

Gig Harbor Demonstration Garden

Location & Hours of Operation:

Open to the Public:
Wednesdays from 9:00 to 11:30 am year round
Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm April through September
We have Master Gardeners on-site

Address:
10123 78th Ave NW
Gig Harbor, 98332
Located at the southern end of the Sehmel Homestead Park.

Gig Harbor Demo Garden map
Memorial bench at Gig Harbor Demo Garden

Come, grab a bench and relax!

We are within Sehmel Homestead Park, south past the baseball diamonds.
We, too, have free Saturday Garden talks and lots to see.
You can take a trip through our Heritage Walking Trail and see over thirty native plants in their natural forested environment. We also have a deer free zone packed with gardening tips. For a sample, check out our points of interest below.

Points of interest:

Clinic table at the Gig Harbor Demonstration Garden

Ask A Master Gardener clinic

On Wednesdays and Saturdays we set up an Ask A Master Gardener clinic inside our demonstration garden so that you can bring your questions and samples of problem issues for us to work through with you.
Sweet Alice apple tree in Sehmel Park

Sweet Alice apple tree

Directly across from the demo garden main gate is the Sweet Alice apple tree. It was hybridized by Seth Lewelling in the late 19th century. He is best known for creating the Bing cherry and is known as the father of the Oregon fruit industry.
Container flower wall at the Gig Harbor Demonstration Garden

The flower wall

We’ve setup a container based flower wall garden to hide our composting area and give you some ideas of the things you can do with container plants. Check it out in the summer when it is in full flower!
Shemel's Heritage Garden walking trail

Heritage Garden walking trail

A short walk from our demonstration garden is a trail where we’ve populated and signed over 30 native plants within the forest. Come enjoy a walk and learn about Pacific Northwest native plants at the same time.
Youth area at the Gig Harbor Demonstration Garden

Youth Garden

We run our youth gardening classes out of our demonstration gardens. We are in the process of rebuilding the area set aside for the next generation of gardeners. Stop by and check out our progress.
Raised beds with various covers

Raised bed veggie gardening

We demonstrate several raised bed gardening techniques in the demonstration garden, including cover crops and bunny blockers. All food grown in our beds is donated to the local food bank.
Composting demonstration center at the Gig Harbor Demonstration Garden

Composting Center

We recycle our garden refuse into compost. Stop by and we will be happy to show you how easy this is to do in your own yard. Improves your soil and keeps food wast out of our landfills.
Espaliered Apple tree at the Gig Harbor Demonstration Garden

Espaliered apple tree

Two in one: we can show you what a mature espaliered apple tree looks like and we put ‘footies’ on our fruit showing a chemical-free way to control pests and grow great apples.
Hugelkultur demonstration at Gig Harbor Demonstration Garden

Hugelkultur

Hugelkultur is a gardening technique that involves creating raised beds by piling up decaying wood and other compostable biomass plant materials. This method mimics natural processes and promotes sustainable gardening practices.
Hydroponic demonstration station at the Gig Harbor Demonstration Garden

Hydroponic gardening

Hydroponic agriculture is a method of growing plants without soil, utilizing a water-based nutrient solution to provide essential minerals directly to the plant roots.

Frequently asked questions:

A: Yes, we welcome volunteers who are trying to decide if they want to join the program or just want to contribute to the community.

A: Yes! Just send us an email:

Request Garden Tour

A: Bring in a plant sample and photos of the whole plant to the garden on Wednesday mornings 9:30-11:30 year round or Saturdays 10:00-2:00 April-September 

A: Send an email through the link below:

Contact Youth Gardening