Demonstration Gardens
Xeric plants, once established, can grow with less water, tolerate drought, and are suited to the arid conditions along the Columbia River, east of the Cascade Mountains. This region receives less than 10 inches of rainfall each year. Choosing plants that tolerate the hot and dry summers uses less water, and requires less irrigation and less maintenance.
Homeowners who wish to learn about their options can view plants in two low water use gardens in the area. The Riverside Park garden is along the west bank of the Columbia River in Wenatchee and the Douglas PUD headquarters is east of the river in East Wenatchee at 1151 Valley Mall Parkway.
Riverfront Park- Wenatchee, WA
The Chelan County Master Gardeners designed, planted and now maintain a Xeriscape Demonstration Garden in partnership with the Chelan County PUD at Riverfront Park in Wenatchee.
The garden can be accessed by parking at the Fifth Street Ice Rink parking lot and walking south along the Apple Capital Loop Trail. Located between the path and the Columbia River near the Nile Saunders Miniature Steam Train station, this display includes over 40 different varieties of low-water-use plants.
Visit the Chelan PUD Xeriscape site to:
- View and search a list of the plants in the demonstration garden
- view a map of the garden location
- learn more about planning and maintaining a Xeriscape garden
Douglas PUD - East Wenatchee, WA
in 2004, the Douglas PUD planted landscaping showcasing low water use plants at the entrance to the PUD headquarters at 1151 Valley Mall Parkway, at the north end of Parkway, just off Sunset Highway. The landscaping incorporates the low water use design elements of plant selection, drip irrigation, and mulch to converse water. The Chelan Master Gardeners assisted in the garden design and plant selection.
Visit the Douglas PUD website to view a list and photos of the plants in the PUD landscape.
Rocky Reach Dam Arboretum
The arboretum includes forty species of trees in the park of the Chelan County PUD dam on the west shore of the Columbia River seven miles north of Wenatchee. The extra value of this arboretum at the Rocky Reach Dam is viewing the mature of these tree species.
View a list the the trees and the PUD's walking guide Trees
at Rocky Reach Park brochure 
.