The Gardens

Education

The Gardens are a part of the Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University.

The Gardens provide hands-on learning to students in the horticulture program, as well as students in several other disciplines across campus.

Community programs

The Friends of The Gardens sponsor several community educational programs, including:

  • Digging into Gardening
  • Garden Tours
  • Volunteer Training (Docent) Program - Includes 3 sessions covering an introduction to The Gardens, tour leading, and garden needs. See Events calendar for details.
  • Kids K-State Garden Club - Kids (1st-3rd grade) - Five 50 minute sessions on Saturdays starting in March thru May in 2023 are planned to spark interest, present gardening basics, and have fun with hands-on activities. See Events for details.

University programs

Additional educational programs include:

As The Gardens grow, there will be more opportunities to provide educational programs designed for children and adults in Manhattan and beyond.

Resources for The Gardens Collection plants -

The four K-State Gardens Collections consist of irises, daylilies, roses, and peonies. The following are a few internet sites for information on these plants.

  • The Flint Hills Iris Society - This site has information on growing irises, types of bearded irises and contact information if you have questions.
  • American Hemerocallis Society (AHS) - This site answers frequently asked questions about daylilies. Also, the home page of the AHS has additional information about the organization.
  • American Rose Society - This site is "Dedicated to America's favorite flower: the rose".
  • The Old Farmer's Almanac - Search words - "growing roses"(https://www.almanac.com/plant/roses) - Good basic information on growing roses.
  • The Old Farmer's Almanac - Search words - "growing peonies" (https://www.almanac.com/plant/peonies) Good basic information on peonies.
  • Heartland Peony Society - Site is dedicated to fostering and promoting an interest in peonies

Gardening Calendar

Check out the gardening calendar from the Riley County Research and Extension office