Shepherd's Garden > Features

The garden presents a park like setting with maples, junipers, and arborvitae planted around the perimeter of the garden. A Colorado blue spruce stands at the southwest entrance path. Within the garden crab apples, and service berries as well as deciduous shrubs, forsythia, arctic willow, mock orange, staghorn sumac, dogwood, Annabelle hydrangea, Miss Kim lilac, viburnum, ninebark and gro-low sumac provide color and texture throughout the seasons. Additional color will be provided by groups of perennials found along the ADA walking path and in front of the pergola.

Sensory Garden

Support from the Lions Club and Lions International Foundation provided funding for additional features and plants that allow folks with sensory disabilities to also experience and enjoy the garden. Ten Braille signs have been installed explaining significant features. scented plants such as herbs placed near benches, the water feature cascading over rocks, two sets of wind chimes, and a handicapped accessible picnic table in the pergola area all can enhance the experience of folks seeking rest and refreshment in the Shepherd’s Garden.

Rain Garden

Rain gardens are functional landscape features that temporarily retain rainwater and prevent it from draining into local storm sewers. Rain gardens require soils that allow water to enter and drain away in less than 48 hours. The Shepherd’s rain garden is located in a green space south of the round green meadow and adjacent to the 6th street sidewalk. The garden is a shallow depression designed to catch runoff from the surrounding areas and hard scape within the Shepherd’s Garden.

Currently the rain garden is a work in progress as we continue to plant a large mixture of perennial flowers, and sedges intended to absorb water after rain. Some plants are adapted for moist environments and others do well in dryer soils along the edge. In addition to providing color to the landscape some of these flowers, asters, liatris and various milkweeds will provide support for important pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and possibly hummingbirds.

Design by Geosphere Design Studio