HOA Demonstration Gardens Partnerships
August 5th, 2020
Goals, Policies & Expectations
Background information about Plant Select®
Plant Select® is a program designed to seek out and distribute the very best plants for gardens from the High Plains to the intermountain region. Plant Select® is a cooperative program administered by Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University together with landscape and nursery professionals from throughout the Rocky Mountain region and beyond.
Plants promoted through the program are evaluated on a variety of protocols that include: exceptional performance under low water conditions, adaptation to regional environmental and climatic conditions, uniqueness, resistance to pests and diseases, duration of bloom and a long period of garden interest, noninvasiveness, ease of production, marketability, and more.
Why become an HOA Demonstration Garden?
HOA Demonstration Gardens take the mission of Plant Select to the next level demonstrating that the selection of Plant Select plants can be used throughout landscapes to enhance beauty, conserve water and save HOA communities money.
In addition to the cooperation of the entities above, public gardens throughout the region may apply to become official Plant Select® Demonstration Gardens. These gardens provide opportunities for gardeners to observe how Plant Select® plants perform in garden settings under local and regional conditions. Official Plant Select® Demonstration Garden representatives are eligible to attend the Annual Meeting in June, receive a limited amount of plants at no charge, and have access to free Plant Select® signs and 200 brochures annually. Official Plant Select® Demonstration Gardens are also listed on the Plant Select® website and in other publications.
I. Purpose of an HOA Demonstration Gardens Program
- To support and celebrate any HOA going through landscape installations or conversions of landscapes to more appropriate plantings for this region.
- To discover how Plant Select plants, introduced and recommended, can impact communities on an environmental and fiscal scale.
- To increase public awareness of the beauty, variety, and resilience of Plant Select® plants.
- To promote sustainable horticultural practices.
- To encourage regionally appropriate landscaping/gardening.
- To enhance curb appeal and offer an amenity to HOA residence and the surrounding community.
II. These goals will be accomplished through:
- Appropriate landscape/garden design with regular maintenance.
- An educational component (e.g. provide plant signage, place an enclosed box for brochures, share or post garden information on HOA website or other social media used to communicate with residents, host informative events, etc.)
III. Requirements for Plant Select® Demonstration Gardens
- Education of residents/visitors must be the garden’s primary purpose.
- A Garden must be open to the HOA community year-round.
- HOA Garden will be posted on Plant Select website one year after garden installation.
- Clear and legible signage must include proper plant names and the Plant Select® logo. (Plant Select® resources may be available to order. Inquire with the Director of Plant Select®.
- The education of residents/visitors must be the garden’s primary purpose.
- A Garden must be open to the HOA community year-round.
- The HOA Plant Select® Garden will be posted on the Plant Select website upon installation.
- Clear and legible signage must include proper plant names and the Plant Select® logo. (Plant Select® resources may be available to order. Inquire with the Director of Plant Select®.
- Funds must be available for ongoing maintenance to keep the garden weeded and in shape for year-round beauty and interest. Commercial Plant Select® Plant maintenance is available at www.PlantSelect.org using the “Export to Excel” button.
