Demonstration Garden

The garden demonstrates how to grow food and ornamental plants. Gardeners can see and learn about plants adapted to Indiana and how to care for them. Gardeners can see award-winning All-America Selections (AAS) flowers & vegetables and vegetable gardening techniques like raised beds. It's a place for gardeners to get ideas.

The demonstration garden was created on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in 2012 by Purdue Extension-Marion County staff and Master Gardener volunteers. The demonstration garden features annual flowers and vegetables.

In 2013, the Purdue Extension-Marion County Demonstration Garden became an official All-America Selections (AAS) Flower and Vegetable Display Garden. It is the only AAS Display Garden in Indianapolis and one of less than a half-dozen in Indiana. An AAS Display Garden allows the public to view the newest AAS winners in an attractive, well-maintained setting.

The demonstration garden is 350 feet east of Discovery Hall, where the Purdue Extension-Marion County office is. This is in the northwest corner of the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46205. There is no charge to view the garden or to park at the garden entrance (except during the State Fair). For directions or more information on the garden, call 317-275-9290 or e-mail demonstrationgarden@indyhorticulture.org.

A small amount of the produce is used for testing and demonstration, but most fresh vegetables are taken to a local food pantry.

Year-by-Year Garden Development

In 2012, site development began in early June, and planting began on June 14, 2012, and was completed before the end of July.

In 2013, the flower garden area was completely redesigned. Other additions to the garden in 2013 included five cedar and patio block raised garden beds, two hinged cedar raised beds, two cedar benches, two new cedar signs, and a VegTrug. The garden became an official All-America Selections (AAS) Flower and Vegetable Display Garden.

In 2014, new additions to the garden included three steel corner bracket raised beds, a vertical wall garden, a tomato trellis system, a new insect-proof structure for growing cucumbers, and five fabric 20-gallon pots for growing tomatoes.

In the 2015 growing season, two 20-foot raised beds were framed with 2x6-inch cedar lumber and a circular retaining wall was built on the back slope for the back circle planting bed. A vertical succulent garden was also constructed. During the fall, we began using cover crops in 1 bed.

The 2016 growing season saw another new circular retaining wall for the center planting circle, a newly designed two-sided vertical succulent garden, a hanging basket display area, and a strawberry tower. The garden theme was Bicentennial Colors of the Flag: Blue and Gold. During the fall, we used cover crops in 7 beds.

In the 2017 growing season, three flower towers were constructed of cedar fence pickets for impatiens. A sensory garden was created in the new 2'x8' Elevated Cedar Planting Box. We also used biodegradable paper mulch and row cover hand pegs. Two metal raised beds were installed from kits. We entered the All-America Selections Display Gardens Design Contest for the first time. Foodscaping was the theme for 2017 (see Related Files). We won 1st place among AAS Display Gardens in the 10,000-100,000 visitor category for 2017.

In 2018 we entered the All-America Selections Display Gardens Design Challenge for the second time. The theme was Get Social in the Garden (see Related Files). This encouraged people to post on social media in the garden. We also made the garden more social with additional seating areas, including constructing two turf benches. We won 1st place among AAS Display Gardens in the 10,000-100,000 visitor category for 2018 (see news release in Related Files). The two circular raised beds in front of the garden were converted to four approximately crescent-shaped beds. Two archways were in the 2018 garden: 1) two Jasper tomatoes on the previous large arch and 2) white cypress vines and hops on a new structure. The latter was built from one cattle fence panel (16 feet by 50 inches). Two additional metal raised beds were installed from kits. The garden also included a "wall" of hanging pots of succulents. The three flower towers featured Petunia Evening Scentsation. Cover crops were planted in the fall. A link to a one-minute drone video of the 2018 garden is found below.

2018 Demo Garden YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svbz6ZlKUwo

We entered the All-America Selections Display Gardens Design Challenge for the third time in 2019. The theme was Re-Use, Recycle, Re-imagine (see Related Files). For the third year, we won 1st place among AAS Display Gardens in the 10,000-100,000 visitor category (see news release in Related Files). We constructed two different types of compost bins and built a new type of raised bed along the inside of the fence (made with Oldcastle Tan Brown Planter Wall Blocks and 2x6-inch cedar lumber). The two turf benches were converted to flower planters out front. Plants on the arches were Seychelles Pole Bean and Hops. The flower towers and hanging baskets featured Onyx Red Ornamental Pepper. Cover crops were planted in the fall. A link to a 48-second drone video of the 2019 garden is below.

2019 Demo Garden YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/BrzvruoaO9A

In 2020, we entered the AAS Display Gardens Design Challenge theme on Make an Entrance. We won 2nd place (tie) among AAS Display Gardens in the 10,000-100,000 visitor category (see news release in Related Files). In addition to new AAS cultivars added to the garden, a drip irrigation system was constructed in the vegetable area (with funds provided by the Marion County Master Gardener Association). The three flower towers featured Celosia New Look and Ornamental Pepper Onyx Red. Several square-foot garden beds were planned this year. Cover crops were planted in the fall. We planted, harvested, and donated more vegetables this year than any other time: About 4/5ths of a ton (1671.5 pounds). A plant list and map for 2020 are found under Related Files below. Below is a link to a two-minute drone video of the 2020 garden.

2020 Demo Garden YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ED25I7nsU

During 2021, we entered the AAS Display Gardens Design Challenge theme on Diversity in the Garden. We won 1st place among AAS Display Gardens in the 10,000-100,000 visitor category (see news release in Related Files). The demonstration garden included different types of sunflowers, garden beans, hibiscus, Profusion zinnias, and AAS cultivars of several native species. In addition to new AAS cultivars added to the garden, three additional raised beds were constructed: a window well-raised bed with a trellis structure, a fiber cement (Hardie Plank) raised bed, and another bed in front of the garden using 2x6-inch cedar lumber. We added ferns and toad lilies at the garden's north end for screening and a new faucet in the SW corner of the garden. The three flower towers featured Marigold Super Hero Spry in 2021. We also constructed a small melon trellis. Cover crops were planted in four beds during the fall of 2021. A plant list and map for 2021 are found under the Related Files.