Central Park Gardens will celebrate eight years of volunteer-led garden improvements at its annual Open House and Plant Sale on Saturday, October 25^th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Experienced Central Park Gardens volunteers and University of California Master Gardeners will be answering questions and selling plants at five themed stations in the demonstration gardens, which are located on B and Third Streets in Davis’ Central Park just west of the Farmers Market.

Water-wise plants and techniques will be a special focus of the event this year with an information booth focused on drip irrigation and a broad selection of drought-tolerant succulents, grasses, bulbs, natives, and perennials for sale.  Planting in the fall reduces the need for irrigation by taking advantage of cool temperatures and winter rainfall to get new plants established. 

The plant sale will also include a variety of fall vegetables, flowers, and herbs plus free flower seeds for all. Home gardeners will find a wealth of information and advice about lawn removal, drought-tolerant plant selection, growing edibles, least toxic pest control, attracting beneficial insects and many other practical topics. All proceeds from the event will provide much needed funds for Central Park Gardens maintenance. 

Central Park Gardens has been a volunteer-managed demonstration garden since 2007.  The garden features a variety of themed plantings that demonstrate environmentally-friendly plant choices and gardening practices.

You can browse below for the list of plants available at the sale or click here to download a printer-friendly version.

WONDERFUL WATER-WISE PLANTS: SUCCULENTS AND PERENNIALS

variegated century plant (Agave americana var. marginata)

soap aloe (Aloe saponaria)

aloe (Aloe sp.)

red apple (Aptenia cordifolia)

assorted succulents

cape balsam (Bulbine frutescens, orange flower)

rock purslane (Calandrinia spectabilis)

red carpet jade (Crassula pubescens ssp. radicans)

ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense 'Pinky')

hoop petticoat daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium 'Golden Bells')

foothill penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita BOP')

germander sage (Salvia chamaedryoides)

dwarf Mexican stonecrop (Sedum confusum)

yellow Angelina stonecrop (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina')

blue chalksticks (Senecio serpens)

Argentine dusty miller (Senecio viravira)

society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea)

MARVELOUS MEADOW PLANTS: WILDFLOWERS, GRASSES, AND BULBS

island pink yarrow (Achillea millefolium 'Island Pink')

drumstick onion (Allium sphaerocephalon)

eyelash grass (Bouteloua gracilis)

grassland sedge (Carex divulsa)

slender sedge (Carex praegracilis)

tansy-leaf phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia)

blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)

Ithuriel's spear (Triteleia laxa 'Koningin Fabiola')

purple vervain (Verbena bonariensis)

Argentine rain lily (Zephyranthes candida)

“SCENTSATIONAL” HERBS/EDIBLE FLOWERS

dill (Anethum graveolens)

borage (Borago officinalis)

Zeolights calendula (Calendula officinalis 'Zeolights')

cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)

dwarf English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead')

German chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)

Betty Rollins dwarf oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Betty Rollins')

Italian parsley (Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum)

compact rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis 'Mozart')

rue (Ruta chalepensis)

yerba buena (Satureja douglasii)

fernleaf tansy (Tanacetum vulgare var. crispum)

wall germander (Teucrium chamaedrys)

empress of India nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus 'Empress of India')

King Henry violas (Viola cornuta 'King Henry')

Johnny-jump-ups (Viola tricolor)

VERITABLE VEGETABLES

narrowleaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis)

chard, Bright Lights

fava bean

Florence fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

kale, dwarf blue curled

kale, Nero Toscana

lettuce, Buttercrunch

lettuce, Freckles romaine

onion, Cipollini

onion, Flat of Italy

shelling pea, Little Marvel

snap pea, Cascadia

spinach, Bloomsdale

spinach, Lavewa

FANTASTIC FLOWERS

Laura yarrow (Achillea millefolium 'Laura')

star of Persia (Allium christophii)

princess lily (Alstroemeria, dwarf red)

Holborn glory sweet William (Dianthus barbatus 'Holborn Glory')

tower of jewels (Echium wildpreti)

tower of jewels (Echium wildpreti)

Byzantine gladiolus (Gladiolus communis ssp. byzantinus)

knautia (Knautia macedonica)

rose campion (Lychnis coronaria)

forget me nots (Myosotis sylvatica)

Brazilian oxalis (Oxalis rubra)

scarlet red zonal geranium (Pelargonium 'Scarlet Red')

African queen cape fuchsia (Phygelius x rectus 'African Queen')

feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)