All America Selections (AAS) Trial Site & Display Garden

Did you know that The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, has been an All-America Selections (AAS) Trial Ground and AAS Display Garden for almost 20 years? We are one of 60 trial sites scattered across the country where annuals, perennials, and vegetables are trialed and tested to see if they can outcompete old favorites, give gardeners new options that perform well, and are easy to grow. When you visit us, you can see an AAS Edible In-ground Trial and an AAS Ornamental Seed-in-ground Trial.  

Over the last two decades, we have trialed hundreds of new plants and, while some have become winners, others have faded away. Each trial has a head judge, and for the past six years or so, Jesse Dahl, our Senior Horticulturist has fulfilled that role. In early winter, we receive the seeds for the trials, and the seeds for two comparisons. Arboretum staff then grow these seeds on campus and our results are transplanted into the gardens in mid-May. We plant using a slow-release fertilizer and we water the trials through dry spells. The trial judge keeps notes on the germination and evaluates each entry five or more times each year. 

For the past 20 years, we have also been an AAS Display Garden where we showcase the AAS winners from the previous five years. We encourage visitors to check out these two areas in the Ornamental Horticulture Gardens on your next visit. You will see some varieties that are so new they haven’t yet been named in the distinctive bed along the chain link fence as soon as you enter the Home Demonstration Garden. 

Garden updates

If you visited the gardens last summer, you probably noticed the missing the gazebo top next to the City Garden. After lasting almost 30 years under a veil of wisteria, it had begun to deteriorate and become unsafe. This winter, thanks to a generous donor, a new cedar gazebo was constructed and is now in place. We decided to use cedar for the gazebo top as it resists rot, decay and insect attacks, and resists moisture absorption. It ages beautifully turning from the “fresh” reddish color you see now, and eventually becoming a silvery gray in years to come. We are so pleased to have it back and grateful to our special donor and hope you will check it out on your next visit. With a little luck, the new gazebo top will stand another 30 years! 

The extreme weather of December 2022 showed its devastating effects in 2023. The Arboretum’s evergreens suffered like the rest of those in the Bluegrass region, but particularly hard hit were the broadleaf evergreens such as boxwoods and cherry laurels. Like all other gardeners, we waited with anticipation and were pleased that many plants recovered, but some did not recover and had to be removed. The knot garden in the Demonstration Herb Garden was particularly hit hard. Thanks to special funding support from M-G CAFE, we have been able to outsource the removal of the knot garden and replacement plantings. This work is scheduled to take place in April so by summer the knot garden will be restored to its former glory. Thanks to the Herb Garden volunteers, the adjoining Demonstration Herb Garden is in the process of being spruced up and will be full of culinary and other types of herb plantings come summer. Again thanks to special M-G CAFE support, we have outsourced replacing the boxwoods surrounding the renovated gazebo. 

There is always something new going on in the gardens or going into the gardens. We encourage you to come check them out on your next visit, bring a book and relax or bring a camera and notepad and see some of the interesting plants from around the world that would make a fantastic addition to your yard or garden.