Terraced Gardens

red and yellow blanket flower blooms love the sun and can thrive in sandy soil and hot temps
new signs this year at the fairest gardens in the washington county fairgrounds in stillwater, mn

The Terraced Gardens were created to display a few options for hillside gardening or terraced gardens commonly found in front yards of homes. Most plants selected for this area are able to withstand both our hot & humid summers and being placed behind a brick retaining wall, which tends to retain heat and also dry out the soil.

This garden design features four different retaining walls, an arbor and two trellises; the west gardens are by the shed and the east gardens are toward the woods. The east trellis features a hops vine that blooms to show the interesting flower color and shape. The pathway features ground cover plantings that can be used in high traffic areas around pavers or stone.

Many of the annuals are started from seed during the earliest weeks of spring in the homes of Master Gardeners. The plants in this garden are a mix of perennials which are hardy for the agricultural zone and many colorful annuals, which require more frequent watering but give instant beauty all summer long. 

Plant list

A Hosta – “El Nino”

B Impatiens

C Japanese Painted Fern

D Coral Bells – Green

E Avalanche Feather Reed Grass

F Hops – Cascade

G Black-eyed Susan

H Stone Crop

I Golden Flame Honeysuckle

J Meadow Sage

K Comphrena

L Daylily

M Walkable Thyme

N Canna Lily

O New England Aster

P Moss Rose

Q Yarrow

R Celosia

S Sweet Alysum

T Bachelor Buttons

U Astilibe

V Zinnia

W Virgin’s Bower

X Scarlet Sage

Z Musk Mallow

AA Wild Bergamot\

BB Coral Bell-Red

CC Phlox

DD Wild Ginger

Garden map, east terrace

Garden map, west terrace

Photo gallery

  • hops vine grows across the trellis at the north entrance to the fairest garden in the washington county fairgrounds, stillwater, mn
    Welcome to the Terraced Gardens!
  • spring cleanup kicks off the growing season at the fairest gardens in the washington county fairgrounds in stillwater, mn
    How it all begins: spring cleanup. Leave plant stems and leaves overwinter for pollinator habitat, then clean up in the spring.
  • east terrace, shade garden, Washington County Master Gardeners, Minnesota
    East terrace, shade garden.
  • East terrace, lower gardens.
    East terrace, middle gardens.
  • East terrace, lower gardens.
    East terrace, lower gardens.
  • shade gardens, west terraced gardens
    shade gardens, west terrace
  • west trellis of the terrace garden
    West trellis, terraced garden
  • West terrace, lower gardens.
    West terrace, lower gardens.
  • hops blooms at the fairest gardens
    Hops blooms attract pollinators, and create shade on trellises and arbors.
  • burgundy blooms on a hollyhock plant
    Hollyhock is a great flower for adding vertical structure in the garden.
  • Masterwort, a pretty purple flower in a shady garden spot
    Masterwort blooms in a pretty purple to brighten the shade garden.
  • red and yellow blanket flower blooms love the sun and can thrive in sandy soil and hot temps
    Pretty blanket flowers bring a pop of color to the garden, and is able to withstand the heat of a brick lined garden area.
  • moss roses at the fairest garden in the washington county fairgrounds, stillwater, mn
    Moss roses make an excellent full-sun border.
  • honeysuckle vine provides nectar from its tubular pink flowers
    Honeysuckle vine is an excellent nectar source.
  • grow where you're planted: bachelor buttons in blues and purples popped up in the cracks between bricks
    Bloom where you’re planted: bachelor button plants pop up between the bricks.
  • avalanche feather reed grass
    Avalanche feather reed grass provides structure in the garden, and helps support nearby tall flowers.