A Model for Sustainable Gardening
The Water Wise Low Maintenance Demonstration Garden, located at the James City County Human Services Center entrance, 5249 Olde Towne Road, is a model for sustainable gardening in Virginia’s Peninsula region. The project began in 2003 to educate and inform the public on the benefits of water-wise and low-maintenance gardening. Showcased are a variety of native and drought-tolerant plants that thrive in our local climate with minimal water requirements. You can create a garden like this that is not only beautiful and enjoyable but also sustainable.
Garden Principles
Not everyone has the time or ability to dedicate to high-maintenance landscapes. This garden incorporates key principles of low-maintenance gardening, such as:
- Grouping plants by water needs and using efficient irrigation, like a water barrel, saves water and effort.
- Incorporating organic matter, compost, and mulch into the soil bolsters health and moisture retention, reducing watering frequency.
- Choosing plants suited to your garden's microclimates (i.e., shade, sun, soil, etc.) minimizes extra care and maintenance.
- A simple mulch layer maintains moisture, controls weeds, and enriches soil, thereby reducing garden labor.
The selection of plants in the garden is carefully curated to include species native to our region that are drought tolerant. This includes a mix of perennials, shrubs, and grasses that conserve water and provide a habitat for local pollinators and wildlife. Approximately 30% of the garden currently consists of native species, with an ambitious goal to increase this to 70%. (Garden Plant List)
Engage, Discover, and Connect
The Master Gardeners' mission is to engage, inform, and educate garden visitors. For adult visitors, literature is available on display tables, including brochures in both English and Spanish. We circulate a detailed guide outlining the garden's array of blooms, berries, leaves, and stems, complete with a timetable and palette of their flowering periods. Also available are Virginia Cooperative Extension's and other valuable guides on garden planning and upkeep. Topics of particular interest include invasive species like the Spotted Lanternfly and diseases like the Crape Myrtle bark scale.
Children, our future gardeners, partake in crafting their own butterflies, garden-themed wish flags, seed spheres, and floral handprints. We distribute stickers featuring butterflies and other pollinators, inspiring youngsters to spot these essential creatures within our garden. Additionally, we offer an olfactory experience with a "scent tour" of garden herbs, presented on our display tables.
Spanish Language Outreach
James City County, Williamsburg, and surrounding communities comprise a diverse population and languages. Half of the garden’s visitors speak languages other than English and are predominantly from Latin American regions. We've ensured our garden brochure is accessible in English and Spanish. These brochures are readily available at the front desk and in display bins along the JCC Human Services building hallways. In the garden, individual plant labels use common names rendered in English and Spanish.
Cooperative Effort: A Community Oasis
This garden is more than just a space; it's a testament to the cooperative spirit of the community, the healing power of nature, and the collective effort to create a sustainable future. It reminds us that there is always a place for beauty and tranquility, even in our busiest days. Annually, over 15,000 visitors, their families, and friends are greeted by the garden's serene beauty. This lush space is not just a pathway; it's a tranquil retreat that marks the beginning of care and support. The James City County Human Services Department hosts this garden, ensuring that it adheres to the county's standards and procedures.
The Olde Towne Medical Center's patients and their families generate 13,000 annual visits through the garden, underscoring its role in the healing process. In August 2024, the Olde Towne Medical Center recognized the JCCW Master Gardener volunteers’ tireless efforts in maintaining the garden as a beacon of welcome and hope for the patients.
The JCC Sustainability Division of the General Services Department provides information on best practices, ensuring the garden's upkeep aligns with ecological principles. Their cooperation and involvement are demonstrated through funding the interpretative signs and materials made possible by a Keep Virginia Beautiful Fall Green grant.
Learn More/Volunteer
The public is encouraged to visit this landscape at any time and take away lessons that can transform their approach to gardening. Master Gardener volunteers work in the garden on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday from March to November at 9-11 a.m. in the spring and fall and 8-10 a.m. in the summer. The public is welcome to come by and help after completing a volunteer form. If you want to learn more about this and other water-wise and low-maintenance gardens, or you want to volunteer, contact us at [email protected].
Master Gardeners at Work.
