This summer, the NDSU Williston Research Extension Center will be home to a special garden. The center has been designated an All-America Selections Display Garden site, which is a public or privately funded garden that grows All-America Selection winner plants from seed in an attractive outdoor landscaped setting.

There are approximately 200 display garden sites around the country and North Dakota hosts three of the sites. The others are located at the NDSU main campus and the International Peace Garden near Dunseith.

“The program has strict criteria that must be met in order to qualify,” says Lorna Bradbury, Williston Research Extension Center horticulture research specialist. “For example, we have to allocate garden space to grow and maintain 40 to 55 varieties of plants. We also need access to a greenhouse to start seeds before the plants are transplanted to the garden.”

Each year, the program determines winner varieties to add to the list of seeds that may be sent out to the various garden sites. “The program will send us approximately one-third vegetable and two-thirds flower variety seeds that have been designated All-America Selection winners,” Bradbury says.

Part of the program's criteria is having the garden open to the public and conducting an open house or field day. The annual field day event is scheduled on July 15. “However, visitors can come at any time to tour the garden,” Bradbury says. “Visitors can take a self-guided tour or call ahead to arrange for a guided tour.”