McKinney Green Gardens

The McKinney Green Gardens, located in Gabe Nesbitt Park, at the base of the large McKinney water tower was designed as a demonstration garden to be enjoyed by children, homeowners, landscapers and developers, as a learning tool on how to employ and combine effective water conservation methods with beautiful native and drought tolerant plants.  The design of the garden was a collaborative effort between the City of McKinney and the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Urban Solutions Center.

The park is divided into six theme gardens separated by winding paths and a central open area.  Ornamental grasses, trees, ground cover, and shrubs blanket the gardens, and small signs labeling the variety pepper the grounds.   A drip irrigation system and best Texas gardening practices are used to promote ecologically friendly design, and some of the plant varieties were specifically choose to attract butterflies and wildlife. 

Partial Plant List

(see more details in link below)

Groundcover

Calylophus

Liriope

Rain Lily

Shrubby Skullcap

Ornamental Grass

Gulf Coast Muhly Grass

Hamlen Grass

Lindheimer’s Muhly

Weeping Lovegrass

Ornamental Tree

Carolina Buckhoun

Chinese Pistache

Desert Willow

Goldenball Leadtree

Mexican Buckeye

Forest Pansy Redbud

Shade Tree

Bur Oak

Eastern Red Cedar

Lacy Oak

Shantung Maple

Shurb

Agarita

American Beauty Berry

Bearded Iris, White

Gaura/Whirling

Fall Aster

Frog Fruit

Lamb’s Ear

New Gold Lantana

Mexican Mint Marigold

Knock Out Rose

Texas Sage

Yucca, red

Turfgrass

Cavalier Zoysiagrass

Prarie Buffalograss

Premier Bermudagrass

Tifton 10

Zorro Zoysiagrass

My visit to the McKinney Green Garden was in mid August, in the middle of one of the longest heat waves in Texas history, and at a time when the area has not seen measurable rain precipitation in weeks.  The garden did show signs of exhaustion, just like my garden at home, but I too have several native plants and grasses and know from experience that they will return.   The gardens in McKinney are a good example of how we can conserve water with drip irrigation and by using plants accustom to the weather conditions in North Texas.   

About the Plants: http://mckinneygreengardens.tamu.edu/about-the-plants

Drip Irrigation: http://mckinneygreengardens.tamu.edu/irrigation

McKinney Green Gardens: http://mckinneygreengardens.tamu.edu/about-the-gardens