The museum proudly maintains a CSU demonstration garden, a living classroom and a visual retreat. Designed to showcase plants that thrive in our local climate, it promotes sustainable gardening practices while offering a peaceful space for exploration and enjoyment. This garden reflects our ongoing commitment to education and community enrichment, making every visit a meaningful experience. This initiative is part of our commitment to environmental awareness and community involvement.
The garden is open dawn to dusk everyday all year long.
Prize Winning Gardens
Many prizes have been awarded to our gardeners over the years. The Sedalia Demonstration Garden has been named as an outstanding public Habitat Hero garden.
Founding of the Gardens
The gardens surrounding the Sedalia Museum represent an ideal cooperative effort among community organizations. Located at the corner of Highway 67 and Platte Avenue, these gardens are shared with the West Douglas County Fire Department Station 4.
When the new fire station was built, Fire Department board member Kelli Fallbach saw an opportunity to create a neighborhood showplace with the surrounding property. As a member of the Sedalia Museum and a Douglas County Master Gardener, Kelli asked both organizations for assistance.
The Douglas County Master Gardener program accepted the Sedalia gardens as an authorized project, meaning that gardeners who work the Museum plots receive credit toward their Master Gardener volunteer commitments. The Museum agreed to help fund the project and provide volunteers. The fire department maintains the sprinkler system and lawn upkeep, while the garden volunteers care for the plantings. Local Boy Scouts built the fence surrounding the garden and a bridge across a retention pond, thereby, creating a physical connection between the fire station and the Museum parking lot.
When the Museum moved its current building onto fire department property, the gardens were expanded. The area now features several demonstration gardens, a penstemon garden, an area displaying models of historic Sedalia homes, and a wildlife area, making the Museum gardens a focal point for gardening enthusiasts.
The Museum gardens are used to showcase and test plants it receives through the Plant Select® program. Museum volunteers plant, care for and take detailed notes about the successes and failures of each test plant. Annually, the Museum sends a report to the Plant Select program which then passes the information about winter hardiness, altitude and performance to growers.
Plant Select® is a cooperative program administered by Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University in concert with horticulturists and nurseries throughout the Rocky Mountain region. The program’s goal is to test plants for suitability in Colorado landscapes.
Enjoy a shady bench
Shady bench cradles two in emerald hush.
Light weaves through leaves in dappled melody.
Their folded hands rest easy in each lap. Soft breeze stirs the hush of summer air.
Green hedges frame their quiet reverie.
Their shared smile brightens the shaded stillness.
Garden Gallery
In autumn, we find there are still some lingering blooms in our gardens. This slideshow features photos taken in September 2025 before a freeze.
