Stop and smell the roses in 6 immaculate public gardens in Reno

From a historic arboretum to a garden specifically designed to appeal to the five senses, experience the power of flowers at these six public gardens in Reno.

Everything’s coming up roses in Reno (plus other flora and fauna, too). Even though Nevada is the country’s driest state, the Biggest Little City in the World is full of thriving gardens—tranquil landscapes open to the public for relaxation, rejuvenation, and respite. 

Some public gardens in Reno offer examples of xeric landscape, or xeriscape, taken from the Greek word xeros, meaning dry. These gardens are designed to save water with drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation systems, creating sustainable and lovely gardens in Reno’s semi-arid desert environment.

University of Nevada, Reno Arboretum 

Location: The University of Nevada, Reno

The University of Nevada, Reno Arboretum is a campus-wide collection of shrubs, flowers, ornamentals, native flora, and roughly 200 species of trees—some with historical significance–and it’s open to the public for education and enjoyment.

The Blue Atlas Cedar Trees in the Challenger Garden commemorate the astronauts who lost their lives in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, while 36 mature elm trees lining the Quad, or Historical Reno Quadrangle, were planted in 1908 to represent American Founding Father Thomas Jefferson’s design for the University of Virginia lawn. Also known as the Jefferson Academic Village, it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987.

Established in 1985, the UNR Arboretum incorporates a cherry blossom garden with Mt. Fuji cherry trees, azaleas, bamboo, and ornamental grasses; a rose garden; a native garden with plants from the Great Basin, Mojave, and Sonoran deserts; and a xeriscape area with arid-adapted plants. 

Jimmie’s Garden houses rock daphne, hornbeam, weeping Nootka cypress, a Japanese pagoda tree, star magnolias, rhododendrons, perennial shrubs, and flowers. Spring-flowering bulbs, annuals, and trees, including Crimean lindens, ash, blue spruce, dwarf Montgomery spruce, and flowering pears, dot the street in the Fleischmann Agriculture Entry Landscape. In addition to the flora and fauna, there’s Manzanita Lake, which is filled with swans, ducks, and turtles. Reno’s main street, Virginia Street, lies just beyond the lake. 

Valley Wood Park Wildlife Gardens

Location: 6555 Valley Wood Dr., Reno

Considered Reno’s premier demonstration garden, Valley Wood Park Waterwise Gardens is home to drought and pollinator-friendly, native plants that thrive in the semi-desert climate, attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. 

Pathways wind through eight themed gardens, including a wildlife garden, food forest, and herb meadow, with picnic tables on the way. This is a great place to learn about water conservation while enjoying a beautiful landscape.

Public tours are available for free. Check the website for information and lists of included plants.

Wilbur D. May Arboretum

Location: Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N Sierra St., Reno

Growing from an initial three acres to its current size of 13 acres, Wilbur D. May Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a treasured local gem with 94 small gardens, groves, and water features. The garden is enjoyed by more than 100,000 visitors annually, with 4,600 native and adaptive plants and 1,700 trees, giving it distinction as the most plant-diverse area in northern Nevada. At a 4,600-foot elevation, the garden represents the transition zone between the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the Great Basin desert.

Visitors experience solace and peace here as they traverse two acres of paths and walkways, expanding their knowledge of plants and spotting some of the nearly 55 bird species the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden attracts. As an outdoor laboratory for children and adults, local schools often use the garden to teach lessons on the natural world.

While 13 acres have been developed with a mission of education, research, and conservation, Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden still has 10 acres to complete. Plans include a 2.5-acre new Cactus and Succulent Garden as an alternative to traditional landscaping. The hope is to show Reno homeowners that beautiful landscaping is possible using little water.

For events, workshops, and classes, visit the May Arboretum website.

The Sensory Garden At Idlewild Park

Location: Idlewild Park, 150 Cowan Dr., Reno

Located at the 9-acre Idlewood Park, near the Idlewood Park Train Ride and Idlewood Pond, the Sensory Garden is a family-friendly spot that’s all about the five senses with pesticide-free planter beds themed to touch, smell, listen, observe, and taste. 

As visitors stop at different zones along the pathways, they are encouraged to touch the plants, rocks, and moss; smell the flowers and leaves; listen to birds and insects; observe the nuances of the plants; and taste herbs and veggies straight from the earth. You can watch strawberries turn red or hear the buzzing of bees feeding on pollinators. If it applies to your senses, you can experience it here and learn something in the process!

The Sensory Garden is open to the public during park hours. See the website for details.

Reno Municipal Rose Garden

Location: Idlewild Park, 2055 Idlewild Dr., Reno

Dedicated to a horticulturist who established it, the one-acre Fred Gallaway Reno Municipal Rose Garden is also part of Idlewild Park and has welcomed visitors since 1958. With 1,750 total roses in more than 200 varieties, blooming begins in early June and lasts until September. It’s at its peak beauty during late June, early July, and late August.

In addition to the roses, the garden is decorated with a 5′ x 8′ public art piece designed by Reno artist Eileen Gay. Found in the southwest corner, thousands of tiny tile pieces create a mosaic waterfall with more than a dozen floating pink roses. 

The Rose Garden is maintained by a horticulturist, but it relies on a volunteer group to assist with planting, weeding, and dead-heading of roses. It’s an opportunity to learn about roses, and experience is not required to volunteer!

For more information, visit the Rose Garden website.

North Lake Tahoe Education Gardens

Location: University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, 999 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village

The North Tahoe Education Garden has been a learning tool for visitors, students, and faculty since May 1994. The lush green space is a respite from the stresses of daily life and a lesson on practicing conservation in Nevada.

A hot spot for pollinators during growing seasons and a showcase of Tahoe Basin’s native plants, the garden practices sustainability with a solar-powered drip irrigation system. Pathways loop around indigenous, drought-resistant plants and trees marked with identification signs, so you can learn what to plant in Tahoe to attract birds, bees, and butterflies. 

A xeriscape demonstration in three raised beds has no existing irrigation, providing visitors with a list of Great Basin plants that are low-maintenance and need little water. As an educational garden for the area’s colleges, the garden also looks at forest ecology, its impact on Lake Tahoe, aquatic invasive species, stormwater and restoration, and the impact of wildfire on forests and forest management.

The garden is open for self-guided tours seven days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.