Loudoun County Master Gardeners

The Demonstration Garden was first developed by the Master Gardener class of 1992. Their goal was to create a practical organic garden for growing vegetables and fruit where the public could visit and learn about chemical-free gardening. The garden has grown considerably since then in size and scope. Included among the many areas of this approximately 1/3 acre garden are raised beds and small space vegetable areas, a Heritage garden highlighting some plants from Virginia’s past, a Children’s garden featuring child-friendly plants and activities, a Shade garden created under beautiful pine trees, a newly fashioned “Wedding Garden” perfect for special pictures, a Butterfly garden and a fruit tree area. The Master Gardener Demonstration Garden Team Leaders and Volunteers were honored by the Town of Leesburg in June 2007 with the John W. Tolbert Award for work benefiting the Town’s environment through their example that a wholly organic garden is feasible and doable. All produce grown is donated to Interfaith Relief Food Pantry.

Click here for a two-sided flyer containing a color map and self-guided walking tour through our garden: Self-guided walking tour

2011 Demo Garden Goals/Priorities:

Facilitate maximum yield of fruits and vegetables for donation to Interfaith Relief

Plan landscape and plant Boxwoods donated by Country Springs Nursery

Seasonal ‘Teaching Moments’ in the garden to be announced in the MG internal email for educational opportunities for Interns and MG’s

Focus on enhancing front Arbor Entrance to garden

Evergreen Garden Expansion (Spring planting)

New Medicinal Garden between figs (Spring planting)

Bulb Garden Summer and Fall additions (on-going 2011/12)

Kiwi Arbor Entrance enhancement plans (planning)

Fruit Tree plan and area prep (fall planting)

Children’s garden renovation if peach tree is taken down (planning)

Pergola renovation

Exterior Brochure Rack

Cold Frame for Veggie area

Rebuild deer fence around shade garden

Maintain/manage existing garden areas

Cultivate enough compost to cover Demo Garden needs

Location and Hours

The Demonstration Garden is located on Ida Lee Park Drive, Leesburg. Follow the signs to the Demonstration Garden. Park in front of the community plots and walk past those plots to the Demonstration Garden. See map. The Garden is never closed, feel free to visit anytime. However if you come on Tuesday or Thursday mornings, 9-12, from Mid-March to Mid-October, Master Gardeners will be there to answer your questions.

Look for the Public Opening of the Demonstration Garden each year to correspond with the Loudoun County Spring Farm Tour in May. Master Gardeners invite the public to come out and take a self-guided tour of the garden. Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions concerning plants and techniques used in the garden. Special garden talks will be held and activities for the children will also be featured during these two days.

Other fun things to read and watch:

Visit our history scrapbook for pictures on the garden's beginning and expansion
Read all about our Garden expansion and history from 1992 to 2010
See our Lessons Learned each year from 2007 to 2010 seasons of gardening out at Ida Lee .
Enjoy a virtual tour video (Hint: After linking to video, select 'watch in high quality')
Watch our classically narrated video and views of each garden with the Classic Video (click on "watch in high quality" once directed)
Visit gardens we once maintained in the Demo Garden Scrapbook
We celebrated our first Demonstration Garden Homecoming Tea Party on October 2nd, 2008. Master Gardeners who dug the first bit of ground in 1992 attended along with many of their Green Team Leader successors and MG volunteers that have made the garden into what it is today. Loudoun County Interfaith Relief delegates were in attendance as well. Enjoy the Homecoming Scrapbook.

Find us on Facebook: Master Gardeners of Loudoun County, Virginia