Gardeners in the fast-growing high desert of Central Oregon encounter a short growing season, limited precipitation, frost any day of the year, and lackluster soil. Both ornamentals and food are a challenge to raise successfully.
The High Desert Garden Tour helps gardeners successfully navigate the unique soils and extreme climate of the high desert, whether they’ve relocated to the region from moderate climates such as the other side of the Cascades in the Willamette Valley or almost 2,600 miles away in Hawaii.
The Oregon State University Extension Service manages the tour, which rotates between Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties. The 29th annual tour drew 623 attendees to gardens to the Tumalo area in 2023.
“People are inspired by the tour sites and by the homeowners who care for these gardens,” said Amy Jo Detweiler, professor and PSU Extension community horticulturist in Central Oregon.
The tour route changes each year, and gardening enthusiasts visit six private gardens. An OSU Master Gardener is stationed at each stop to explain best plant choices, conservation and water wise gardening, as well as vegetable and fruit growing.
In post-tour surveys, respondents reporte they learned about new plant or gardening practices on the tour. Some of the responses include:
- "Many natives are both colorful and drought resistant. I can plant these in my lava rises, bringing vivid color and pollinators with little water usage."
- "The natives and low-water plants ... were an inspiration for my huge yard of mostly weeds. I have been overwhelmed pulling weeds and looking at more weeds. This tour gave me hope."
- "Appreciated the pollinator gardens and creative ways to use native plants and low- or no-water landscapes on city lots."