the art garden

Garden Designers' Round Table: Reality Check!

2012-01-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

I've had Georgia on my mind . . .

. . . Georgia O'Keefe, that is! Georgia O'Keefe was an important American Modernist who created lush, colorful paintings of flowers, landscapes, and found objects. Her large canvases are often an ode to just one small detail of the subject matter - which is fine for a piece of art - but doesn't work at all in the garden. The reality is that a successful landscape is the sum of its parts. It's easy to get caught up in the fun and excitement of creating a new landscape or garden - the colors! the textures! the fragrance! - and get distracted by these "shiny things" without enough thought or planning given to the big picture. A successful landscape depends on a logical series of steps that are important in and of themselves, and that build upon one another to create a cohesive whole. How does one achieve that perfect whole, that successful landscape that complements your lifestyle and expresses your personal aesthetic? The reality is that gardens take time and money.

Spend the time and money necessary to create a comprehensive plan for your landscape:

Know your budget - what are you willing and able to spend now and in the future?
Know your site - what are the opportunities and challenges presented?
Know your lifestyle - how will you use your outdoor space?
Know your capabilities - what are you willing and able to physically do - or pay others to do - to implement and maintain your landscape?
Pay for the professional services necessary to make your dream an action oriented goal. A plat survey, landscape design, soil or water testing, etc.

Spend the time and money necessary to implement the design for your landscape:

Know the correct sequence of events that is necessary to build a solid and sustainable project. Don't omit or leap-frog around them.
Know that proper preparation - often unseen in the finished project - is essential to the finished outcome.
Pay for the best quality materials that you can afford.
Pay for the best professional craftsmanship that you can afford.

Spend the time and money necessary to maintain your landscape:

Know that your plantings will take time to mature and to reach their full potential.
Know that your hardscape will weather and deteriorate with time.
Pay to keep your plants vigorous and healthy.
Pay to keep your hardscape beautiful, safe and functional.

The reality is that gardens take time and money and attention to detail. Thanks for the reminder, Georgia!

Join my fellow members of the Garden Designers' Roundtable for more discussions and insights on today's topic: Reality Check!

David Cristiani : The Desert Edge : Albuquerque, NM
Susan Morrison : Blue Planet Garden Blog : Easy Bay, CA
Andrew Keys : Garden Smackdown : Boston, MA
Susan Cohan : Miss Rumphius’ Rules : Chatham, NJ
Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In The Garden : Los Altos, CA
Christina Salwitz : Personal Garden Coach : Renton, WA
Shirley Bovshow : Eden Makers : Los Angeles, CA
Genevieve Schmidt : North Coast Gardening : Arcata, CA

Wordless Wednesday 1.18.2012

2012-01-18T00:30:00.000-07:00

Foliage Follow-Up 1.16.2012

2012-01-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Perfect timing for Foliage Follow-Up this month as I've been astounded to see the lovely lush greens of . . .

. . . string algae! Although the water temperature is so cold that the koi are in hibernation mode, the algae is thriving. Did you know that giant sea kelp is also a form of multicellular algae?

Unicellular algae is what creates the "pea soup" conditions that our pond commonly suffers through in the spring.

Lots of winter sunshine here allows the algae to photosynthesize and grow, grow, grow!

Thanks to Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up each month! Read more here.

Wordless Wednesday 1.11.12

2012-01-11T00:30:00.000-07:00

More from Sloan's Lake

2012-01-09T11:35:00.002-07:00

The new jetty project at Denver's Sloan's Lake Park includes an observation/picnic area at the end of the promenade. I like the shade structures that were selected for this small space:

The scale is appropriate to the size of the area

The sail-like material and shape of the canopy is appropriate to the setting

The form of the support structures echo the branching of nearby trees and the wings of the ubiquitous Canada geese.

I predict that this new space will become a very popular asset for the park and its visitors!

Shocking! Or at least a bit disappointing...

2012-01-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I wrote about American Sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, here and noted that it isn't a particularly good tree choice for this region. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that London Plane Tree, Platanus x acerifolia (a cross between P. occidentalis and P. orientalis) has been planted en masse at the newly constructed Sloan's Lake jetty. According to "Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs", this is the most widely planted shade tree in cities worldwide. However, in his earlier (1977 edition) "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants" he opines that the landscape value is "limited" and that he would "hesitate to recommend this tree for anything." My guess? This planting was designed by a landscape architect with little horticultural knowledge or understanding of the climate/growing conditions of the Denver area. But, hey, if they survive this could become a beautiful, shady promenade.

multi-colored, peeling bark, characteristic of Platanus, is evident even on these young trees

double fruit was key to the identification of this tree (the fruit of P. occidentalis is single)

I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Wordless Wednesday 1.4.2012

2012-01-04T00:30:00.000-07:00

winter sunrise, Wheat Ridge, Colorado

Polar Bears in Disguise

2011-12-26T09:04:00.002-07:00

Snow? Ice? Who cares!

Happy Solstice! Happy Winter!

2011-12-22T00:30:00.000-07:00

Celebrate the Solstice and the coming warmth of longer days.

Celebrate the Winter and the serene beauty it provides.

Whatever you choose to celebrate, best wishes for peace, joy, and good health!

Solstice Countdown . . . 1!

2011-12-21T00:30:00.000-07:00

autumn shadows

Those of us who are avid gardeners and living in the Northern Hemisphere can't wait for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Then the days will begin to lengthen and we can look forward to the gardening season once again. Whoo-hoo! This year the solstice occurs on December 22nd, and to celebrate I'm posting a photo-a-day countdown with some of my favorite photographs of 2011. Enjoy!

Solstice Countdown . . . 2!

2011-12-20T00:30:00.000-07:00

Brassica oleracea

Solstice Countdown . . . 3!

2011-12-19T00:30:00.000-07:00

Hibiscus sp.

Solstice Countdown . . . 4!

2011-12-18T00:30:00.000-07:00

mushroom, unknown

Solstice Countdown . . . 5!

2011-12-17T00:30:00.000-07:00

Hosta sp.

Sostice Countdown . . . 6!

2011-12-16T00:30:00.000-07:00

Paeonia lactiflora

Solstice Countdown . . . 7!

2011-12-15T00:30:00.000-07:00

Allium sp.

Solstice Countdown . . . 8!

2011-12-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

Iris germanica & Tradescantia x andersoniana

Solstice Countdown . . . 9!

2011-12-13T00:30:00.000-07:00

Pulsatilla vulgaris

Solstice Countdown. . .10!

2011-12-12T00:30:00.000-07:00

Magnolia stellata

Meet . . . Platanus!

2011-12-10T02:30:00.000-07:00

a mature sycamore tree in Denver, Colorado

This plant profile is a bit different because it features a plant that I do not recommend. However, it's a plant that I think is visually intriguing and worthy of closer examination if you happen across one.
Platanus occidentalis, American sycamore, is native to eastern North America. It's found in deep, moist soils - not a characteristic of Colorado's front Range - and is very large, 75 to 100 feet tall with a similar spread - so not great for most residential landscapes, either. This specimen is located in an irrigated park (32nd Ave and Federal Blvd, Denver) with plenty of room to grow. The texture is irregular and coarse with rangy branching and large leaves.

These trees definitely fall into the "messy" category. There's a mature sycamore in a yard right around the corner from me; I walk by that property all the time and I've noticed the constant litter of twigs (and branches after snow storms).

The beauty of a sycamore is in the amazing bark, which shifts from chunky, grey tessellations on the trunk to large, multicolor, flaky sheets on the lower branches, to smooth creamy-white bark on the upper-branches.

love the lichen on the north side of this old tree!

hues of warm browns, greys, and cream

And did I mention the cool fruit? Another sculptural component of Platanus.

Keep your eyes open for sycamore trees and enjoy them when you see them - just don't plant one!

Wordless Wednesday 12.7.2011

2011-12-07T08:10:00.001-07:00

stenciled detail from the ceiling of the historic Waring House at Denver Botanic Gardens

On the Waterfront

2011-12-05T10:14:00.001-07:00

view across the lake to the willows

On a recent visit to my local Crown Hill Park, the beautiful light of late autumn inspired a flurry of photos. Flora, fauna, and the water itself captured my attention. Here are a few of my favorites:

common cattails, Typha latifolia

native milkweed, Asclepias speciosa

Mr. Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus

tangled cottonwoods, Populus deltoides

happy Mallard pair, year-round residents to our region. Anas platynchos

Remember, you can click on any of my blog photos and see it enlarged on a black background...

Wordless Wednesday 11.30.2011

2011-11-30T02:30:00.000-07:00

European mountain ash, Sorbus acuparia

Senescence . . .

2011-11-28T16:42:00.001-07:00

. . . has its own beauty.

Wordless Wednesday 11.23.2011

2011-11-23T01:30:00.000-07:00

the mornings are downright frosty these days!

Friend or Foe?

2011-11-19T02:30:00.000-07:00

fox squirrel enjoying my Fraxinus americana 'Autumn Purple'

This ~~American Red Squirrel~~ Fox Squirrel is one of many that call my neighborhood home. I enjoy watching their antics in the garden, but don't appreciate their persistent attacks on my bird feeders!

Are squirrels a part of your garden's ecosystem? Do you consider them friends or foes?

ETA: Thanks to Connie who correctly identified this squirrel species!

Wordless Wednesday 11.16.2011

2011-11-16T01:30:00.000-07:00

Freeze-dried: Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance'

Flattened

2011-11-13T02:00:00.000-07:00

Remember this?

The lovely 'Autumn Joy' sedums that I photographed just a few weeks ago now look like this:

They had not had enough time to dry out and harden off before we were hit with a couple of heavy snows. Some years they will stay perfectly upright and the flower heads will dry to a rich, brick red, adding texture and color to the winter landscape.

This year it was just not meant to be!

Wordless Wednesday 11.09.2011

2011-11-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

On the Street . . . Lincoln St, Denver, Colorado

2011-11-07T13:40:00.001-07:00

Design fail!

this "lawn" is about two feet wide

Wouldn't this planting strip be so much MORE if it were filled with billowing ornamental grasses, colorful perennials, and texture-full shrubs?

They managed to get it right on the other side of the walkway, so what went wrong here?

A wasted opportunity is now a waste of resources, too.

Wordless Wednesday 11.02.11

2011-11-02T02:00:00.000-06:00

despite last week's crushing snow: Glaucium flavum and Schizachyrium scoparium

Happy Booooo Day!

2011-10-31T02:00:00.000-06:00

This fantastic giant spider sculpture was featured several years ago at Denver Botanic Gardens -
so sorry I don't remember the name of the artist!

ETA: Thanks to Panayoti Kelaidis:
I believe it was from David Roger's Big Bugs: check out http://www.big-bugs.com/Sites-Pages/Image13.html
Have a hauntingly fun Halloween!

Photo Friday

2011-10-28T02:00:00.000-06:00

first snow of the season

Garden Designers' Roundtable: Darkness

2011-10-24T15:41:00.000-06:00

The shadows know . . . !

a small courtyard garden is visually enlarged - and enhanced - by its shadow. Casa Benavides Inn, Taos, New Mexico

As the days of autumn shorten, the low-slung sun casts longer and more distinctive shadows. The play between positive and negative space becomes more exaggerated; an even match for the color drama going on now, too.

Shadows help us see forms. Various textures and shapes reflect and collect light differently allowing us to distinguish unique elements amongst landforms, hardscapes and plants.

dunes at White Sands National Monument


enhanced shadows expose the topography

shadows created by the foliage texture of this kale help us analyze and understand the plant's form

the variety of textures and forms in this garden create shadows that make it more readable

Shadows cast upon a vertical surface create a multiplying effect that gives depth to a garden. They can also provide new interest and beauty to a blah surface.

Allium shadows on brushed stainless steel at Kevin Robb Studios

the shadow of an tree creates the illusion of a climbing vine

Shadows cast upon a horizontal surface heighten the textural nuances of the hardscape material and create a distorted echo of the item itself.

ghostly images from vintage iron posts enhance a plain-Jane concrete patio

a lattice shadow on river pebbles has a watery distortion

Another type of "shadow" is a silhouette. Items back-lit by the sun and viewed through a translucent screen have a fascinatingly different appearance - sometimes simplified, sometimes more complex. (Either way, it does give one the sense of having x-ray vision.)

hidden flower buds, exposed

colors and shapes interplay like multiple layers of stained glass - Denver Botanic Gardens

a tangle of grape vines, simplified

Our landscapes are changing rapidly now. As autumn moves into winter, and darkness dominates our days, I hope you will seek out the shadows and enjoy their stories.

Please visit my fellow members of the Garden Designers' Roundtable for more inspiring ideas and information on our theme of Darkness:

Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK
Genevieve Schmidt : North Coast Gardening : Arcata, CA

Thanks to M. Zwalen and M. Komodore for allowing me to photograph their gardens!

Fall Classic

2011-10-23T08:47:00.001-06:00

Now that we are well into the second month of fall, it’s time to get serious about preparing the garden for winter. Here is a check list of chores that I try to get done between late October and late November before the distractions of the holidays and the onset of really cold weather.

Blow out automatic sprinkler system and insulate tap. Our first snow and hard freezes are predicted for mid-week, so get crackin'!
Remove hoses from faucets; drain. Store hoses and sprinklers in a handy location for winter watering.
Winterize water features. Drain, clean and store or cover fountains and pots. Remove plant debris from ponds and set up a bubbler (a submersible pump with a short piece of pipe attached to the outlet) to keep some surface area free of ice. Disconnect pumps to recirculating waterfalls---especially if the water volume is fairly low. Ice buildup can divert water and cause problems. Moving water will also make your pond colder, which may be an issue if you have fish.
Empty all containers of annual flowers or veggies (add healthy vegetation to the compost pile, dispose of the rest). Remove soil – or the top 8-10” from large pots - (again, off to the compost pile!), and put containers into storage. My “storage” is the back corner of my covered patio. A shed or garage would also do the trick.
Remove leaves from lawn areas. I rake my leaves directly into my garden beds for a loose, temporary mulch. I’ll remove them in the spring for composting. You can also run your lawn mower over them and leave them, or rake them up for mulch or to compost.
Winterize lawn mower. After the last mowing, run it until the gas tank is empty. Clean mower and sharpen blade.
Add organic soil amendments to planting beds.

Plant bulbs. I'm planning to wait another week or two for this project; once the soil temperature cools down a bit more we'll be good to go.
Wrap young trees. I don’t need to do this anymore, but here are the directions for “how-to”.
Clean up/cut back perennials. I do most of this in the spring, because I like the structure and texture that many plants offer during dormancy.

This is a wonderful time of year to be outdoors and enjoy your garden - have fun!

WordlessWednesday 10.19.2011

2011-10-19T03:00:00.000-06:00

sea lavender, Limonium latifolium

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day 10.15.2011

2011-10-15T03:00:00.000-06:00

Autumn purple ash, just about at its peak of color

Although foliage color is what I associate with the month of October, as you can see here, there are a surprising number of colorful flowers to be found too!

Zagreb coreopsis

whirling butterflies

plumbago

Autumn Joy sedum

Frosty Morn sedum

Maximillian sunflower

hummingbird flower

poppy mallow

All of these plus a few asters, phlox, centranthus, rudbekia, and Russian sage all add up to a rich bounty of blooms.

Please visit Carol, at May Dreams Gardens, to see what's happening in her garden and those of other garden bloggers from around the world.

Wordless Wednesday 10.12.2011

2011-10-12T02:30:00.000-06:00

Pink!

2011-10-09T16:22:00.000-06:00

Aster 'Alma Potschke'

My favorite fall aster (the one with the name I can never pronounce), is in full bloom now. The vibrant pink blooms are a throwback to spring; not quite au courant in autumn, somehow. Maybe that's why I like them - bucking the trend that calls for deep reds, oranges, golds, and bronze!

Wordless Wednesday 10.05.2011

2011-10-05T02:30:00.000-06:00

Acer negundo, boxelder

Meet . . . Berlandiera!

2011-09-30T03:00:00.000-06:00

Berlandiera lyrata, chocolate flower

Chocoholics, rejoice! This may not look very chocolaty, but the fragrance - oh, my!

This was a banner year for chocolate flower in my garden - it started blooming in June and is still going strong now. It loves poor, dry soil and lots of sunshine. Plant chocolate flower in full sun at the front of the border (it grows 10-20 inches tall) adjacent to a sidewalk or stone path. The warmth from the hard surface seems to enhance and prolong the fragrance of the flowers, and you'll get to enjoy it every time you walk by.

Once established, it needs very little - or no - water, and no fertilizer. Berlandiera is native to the desert southwest and the high plains of Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma. It may reseed and naturalize in gardens of USDA zones 4-9.

Chocolate flower was a Plant Select winner in 2004.

No need to diet when you've got Berlandiera - give it a try in your garden!

Garden Designers Roundtable: Getting from Here to There

2011-09-26T11:41:00.000-06:00

Gateways

Gateways are the physical transition that take us from one space to another space,

to another frame of mind,

to another world . . .

Casa Benvenides, Taos, New Mexico

Gateways from the public space to the private;
Let your needs for security and/or privacy guide your choice of height and density.

Village of Rowdat, Afghanistan, 9.26.2011 - photo courtesy Jonathan Hooper, USDA

Classic walled garden: RHS GardenWisley, Surrey, England - photo courtesy Elenor Welshon

The Waring House, Denver Botanic Gardens

Taos, New Mexico

Classic picket fence: Denver, Colorado

design by Jerry Nelson Landscape and Design,Greeley, Colorado

Gateways that create a sense of place;
Let the culture of your region guide your choice of materials.

Adobe and traditional blue trim (to ward off evil spirits): Taos, New Mexico

Wood & flagstone in Denver, Colorado - design by Phase One Landscapes

Asian influenced design: northern California

Gateways reflect your personal aesthetic;
Let the architecture of your home guide your choice of design.

Classical styling for a Georgian home - Denver, Colorado

Custom artwork (23rd Ave Sculpture Studio) for a contemporary home - Denver, Colorado

Simple contemporary styling for a mid-century home - Wheat Ridge, Colorado

Southwestern gateway styling complements home in Denver, Colorado

Now it's up to you to make that gateway meaningful by creating a personal outdoor environment that fulfills all of your dreams!

Need some help? Click on the tabs above to learn more about my landscape design and coaching services.

Be sure to visit my fellow members of the Garden Designers' Roundtable and our esteemed guests for more on Getting From Here to There:
Debra Prinzing & David Perry: A Fresh Bouquet
Pam Penick : Digging : Austin, TX
Scott Hokunson : Blue Heron Landscapes : Granby, CT
Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In The Garden : Los Altos, CA
Jenny Peterson : J Peterson Garden Design : Austin TX
Susan Cohan : Miss Rumphius’ Rules : Chatham, NJ
Susan Morrison : Blue Planet Garden Blog : East Bay, CA
Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK
Christina Salwitz : Personal Garden Coach : Renton, WA

ETA: photo from Afghanistan; brother-in-law working as agricultural consultant with USDA.

Ginormous Colorado Asparagus!

2011-09-23T03:00:00.000-06:00

Not!

This beauty is the flowering stalk of Agave Gracillipes, Guadalupe Mountains century plant. Although native to Texas and New Mexico, this specimen is growing - quite happily! - in one of the rock gardens at Timberline Gardens in Arvada (Denver metro), Colorado.

Timberline Gardens carries several varieties of agave, including the two that I profiled in an earlier post here.

These beautiful, sculptural plants are wonderful assets to the garden, as long as you can provide them with the right growing conditions: sun, heat, and dry soil (especially in the winter).

Wordless Wednesday 9.21.2011

2011-09-21T03:00:00.000-06:00

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' and Cerastostigma plumbaginoides

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day 9.15.2011

2011-09-15T03:00:00.000-06:00

Instead of plant portraits this month, I'd like to show you the bigger picture: my September garden is lush and full of color!

View of the west border: Cerastosigma, Aster, Gaura, Oreganum and Sedum in bloom

A closer view shows how foliage plays an important role in this garden, too.

View to the east and south side of the bluegrass/clover lawn; Perovskia, Sedum, Ceratostigma, Aster and Chrysothamnus!

View across the south border, looking east: Buddleia still blooming! Sculpture by Mark Burton.

View to the "vegetable" garden: a bit of formality tames the chaos of the grass garden.

View from the patio: water lilies and water lettuce starting their slow decline.

Oh, and Lightening says "Hi!"

Thanks for visiting my garden today, and a special thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting this monthly extravaganza - visit her site for links to gardens all over the world!

Wordless Wednesday 9.14.2011

2011-09-14T03:00:00.000-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 9.07.2011

2011-09-07T05:28:00.000-06:00

Kintzley's Ghost honeysuckle vine, Lonicera reticulata 'Kintzley Ghost'

Wordless Wednesday 8.31.2011

2011-08-31T04:39:00.001-06:00

Great plant combination! Ephedra equisetina, Zauschneria garrettii, and Nessella tenuissima

On the Street . . . 10th Avenue, Denver

2011-08-28T03:59:00.004-06:00

I like the old time craftsmanship in this rustic brick wall and garden gate.

Just one More...

2011-08-26T04:11:00.001-06:00

Your perfect lawn alternative may simply be an alternative grass selection.

I stopped and snapped this photo with my phone-camera when I was out on my bike yesterday. What fantastic texture! And this fine fescue grass will take less water than a traditional bluegrass lawn and no mowing.

Garden Designers Roundtable: Lawn Alternatives

2011-08-22T15:24:00.001-06:00

Landscaping without lawn? Hellllooooo... It's called a garden!

A large home is nestled into an awkward corner lot by a lush, lawn-free garden.*

I don't hate lawns. In fact, I have a nice little patch of bluegrass myself. What I do hate, are lawns in inappropriate places where they are wasting resources and not contributing to the function or aesthetics of a landscape. Lawns work well as active play spaces for people and pets, and as "circulation corridors" through landscapes. Thanks to their uniform color and texture, lawns often serve as a place for the eye to rest within an area of visual intensity. My goal, as a professional landscape designer, is to help homeowners identify areas within a landscape where alternative plantings and/or hardscaping could substitute for a traditional lawn.

In October of 2005 I launched a new class at Denver Botanic Gardens called "Landscaping Without Lawn." In a region where many gardeners embrace the concept of Xeriscape, the move to lawn-free landscaping seemed like the obvious next step. However, I soon realized that the biggest challenge facing most homeowners is the inability to visualize gardens as a larger, interactive, three dimensional space instead of the shallow perimeter/foundation plantings that are more familiar. So begin with small steps and build on your successes.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Remove lawns where they struggle to survive.
This one seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes we are blind to the most obvious things! Get your lawn out of the deep shade, off the dry slope, and away from the burning pavement (i.e. the classic "hell strip" between the sidewalk and street).

The hot "no mans' land" between driveways is now a tough and attractive privacy garden.

This clever, serpentine hedge makes for a low care and low water "hell strip."

A difficult slope is tamed with stone terraces and colorful, xeric plants.

Remove lawns where they are hard to maintain.
Target narrow side-yards, areas around trees and shrubs, and spaces smaller than 12' x 12'. Mowing, trimming, fertilizing and watering these small, awkward areas are difficult and time consuming; a real pain in the neck. Who needs it?

Groundcover to the rescue!

Remove lawns where they are not being used for active play or entertainment.
Most of the lawn-free landscapes that I see (and design) are in front yards. These are typically smaller spaces that can become beautiful showcases for your home.

Big boulders for structure and a succession of colorful plantings for year-round interest.

A shallow front yard is given more depth with added paths and sculptural plantings.

Ready to tackle a larger area or go completely lawn-free?

Create places to go and things to do.
Reduce large spaces into smaller areas and organize your landscape via hardscaping. These, in turn, will inform the size, shape, and nature of your garden spaces. For example:

An underused, but nicely shaded, space converted to a large patio.*

Include destination seating areas or secondary entertaining/play spaces. A few years ago I saw a front lawn that had been replaced by an inviting entry patio and bocci court (sorry, no photo!) surrounded by informal plantings. Prefer peace and quiet? A labyrinth would be a wonderful option.

Take a seat in the garden.

Add a designated food production area, i.e. a series of raised beds or an orchard.
Create walkways to take you from Point A to Point B to Point C, etc., and also allow you easier access into deeper gardens. Walkways with high traffic should be wider and built of sturdy, permanent materials. Stepping stones are great for paths with less traffic, or they could even be more trail-like.

Secondary walkways and destination seating areas help tame a big area.*

Use permeable surfaces like crushed rock, dry-laid flagstone, or decking as often as possible.
Incorporate focal points that will provide both: visual focus and movement through the landscape. See the previous Garden Designers' Roundtable post on this topic here.

Water is always welcome in the garden, even in its simplest forms.

Choose appropriate plants.
Trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, grasses and vines can all be used to great effect when converting a lawn to a garden. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing plants:

The majority of plants should be hardy for your region and long-lived, and easy to maintain.

Celebrate the plants that love to live where you live!*

In areas with a long winter season, about 30% of your plants should have evergreen or ever-present foliage (many plants with blue or gray foliage hold onto their leaves when dormant).

The predominant, blue flowering plant here is semi-evergreen Veronica pectinata.

In my opinion, a combination of woody plants (trees and shrubs), ornamental grasses, and true groundcovers (creeping, or large mat-forming perennials) is the best balance of plant interest to level of maintenance required.

Think, Gradation and Repetition.
Gradation is a principle of art and design that refers to the transition between opposites. When designing your garden areas - large or small - site the largest/tallest plants first, then expand outwards with, first, the medium, then small, and finally, smallest plants. This technique will help you create a garden that is full of fluid visual movement instead of jerky stops and starts.

Repetition is a principle of art and design that can be applied to landscaping in terms of creating visual mass and unity. Large scale lawn-free plantings benefit from large, single species plant groups for higher visual impact. Repeated use of a particular plant, or color (like the blue/gray foliage in the photo below) will carry the eye through the landscape and give it continuity.

A gardener's garden of woody plants, perennials and ornamental grasses.*

Still a bit overwhelmed?
Contact me for a personal consultation, coaching session or landscape design!

And read on --- join my fellow members of the Garden Designers' Roundtable and our special guests from the Lawn Reform Coalition for more, much more, on Lawn Alternatives:
(and no, you’re not seeing double, Susan Harris has contributed two posts!)

Susan Harris : Garden Rant : Takoma Park, MD
Susan Harris : Gardener Susan’s Blog : Takoma Park, MD
Billy Goodnick : Cool Green Gardens : Santa Barbara, CA
Evelyn Hadden : Lawn Reform.Org : Saint Paul, MN
Saxon Holt : Gardening Gone Wild : Novato, CA
Ginny Stibolt : Florida Native Plant Society : Green Cove Springs, FL
Susan Morrison : Blue Planet Garden Blog : East Bay, CA
Shirley Bovshow : Eden Makers : Los Angeles, CA
Scott Hokunson : Blue Heron Landscapes : Granby, CT
Rochelle Greayer : Studio G : Boston, MA
Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In The Garden : Los Altos, CA
Pam Penick : Digging : Austin, TX
Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK
Laura Livengood Schaub : Interleafings : San Jose, CA
Ivette Soler : The Germinatrix : Los Angeles, CA
Genevieve Schmidt : North Coast Gardening : Arcata, CA
Douglas Owens-Pike : Energyscapes : Minneapolis, MN
Debbie Roberts : A Garden of Possibilities : Stamford, CT

*Landscape design by Jocelyn H. Chilvers. All others of unknown origion.

Wordless Wednesday 8.17.2011

2011-08-17T01:35:00.001-06:00

Canna sp.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day 8.15.2011

2011-08-15T01:22:00.003-06:00

August in the garden can feel like nothing but weeds, weeds, weeds! So it's especially nice to take time to enjoy what's blooming right now:

The last of the daylilies:

Hemerocallis 'Hyperion'

The not-quite-ready-for-prime-time sedum:

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' One of my clients refers to these as "those plants that look like broccoli"

And the still going strong coneflowers:

Echinacea 'White Swan'

Ratibida columnifera

Looking fabulous right now are the bluemist spirea and butterfly bush:

Caryopteris x clandonensis

Buddleia davidii 'Dark Knight'

Buddleia davidii 'Nanho Blue' This compact form has a finer texture and silvery foliage.

Nearing the peak of perfection is the grass garden:

Switch grass (Panicum virgatum) left, and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium).

Buffalo grass (Bucheloe dactyloides) swirls through the taller plants.

A tiny visitor...

Thanks for visiting my garden today, and be sure and join in the fun at May Dreams Gardens for links to more garden bloggers from across the globe!

Welby Gardens Flower Trials

2011-08-12T02:25:00.001-06:00

Last week I attended the annual flower trials at Welby Gardens. Along with a number of fellow landscape professionals, I was invited to view 800 new - or recently introduced - plant varieties (mostly annuals) and vote for my ten favorites. Welby will use the information to help determine which plants to propagate next year. What a concept, eh? Find out what the buyers like, and supply it!

Here are just a few that caught my eye:

Osteospermum, 'Peach Magic' from the Serenity series

This photo doesn't do justice to the iridescence of the upper surface of the flower petals. Plus, check out the rich, golden brown of the undersides. Very cool!

Lantana 'Lemon Glow' from the Lucky series

I love the clean, bright, cheery look of this lantana. Plus, I'm a sucker for color value shifts on the same plant - more bang for your buck!

Coleus 'Mars Landing'

Cool name for an uber cool plant! Looks like an exotic leather or gemstone or - gee! - the surface of Mars. Such a wonderful color palette in one plant will inspire lots of striking container plantings for sure!

Supertunia 'White Russian'

Dude. I am totally fantasizing about an entire garden based on The Big Lebowski. Seriously, this is a dynamic neutral that will be a great mixer.

And finally, this crazy fiesta coneflower. Not part of the trial, but a showstopper nonetheless.

Echinacea 'Double Scoop'

Wordless Wednesday 8.10.2011

2011-08-10T01:43:00.001-06:00

Nymphaea sp., hardy water lily

Beautiful Bark

2011-08-08T03:08:00.001-06:00

Behold the patterning of colors and textures that creates a timeless, mysterious beauty in the bark of these old alder trees (Alnus rubra?). Photographed in McKinleyville, California.

Is there such a term as "archeological" when referring to plants? If not, there should be!

Vacation: foreign fauna recap

2011-08-05T12:05:00.000-06:00

The coastal region of far northern California never fails to entertain. The built landscapes are wonderfully full of beautiful plants that are different from my usual palette. However, it's often the native or naturalized plants that find themselves in front of my lens (camera phone only, on this trip):

On the beach

harvested

mmmmm....veggies!

a river runs through it

At the dog park

fernilicious!

an Equisetum of some type?

leaf miner graffiti

Zoe, Allison, and Abiba down the alder allee

I can't wait to return!

Wordless Wednesday 8.03.2011

2011-08-03T02:50:00.001-06:00

Eryngium sp., sea holly

Wordless Wednesday 7.27.2011

2011-07-27T02:41:00.001-06:00

Astrantia major, masterwort

Wordless Wednesday 7.20.2011

2011-07-20T04:19:00.002-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 7.13.2011

2011-07-13T15:01:00.001-06:00

Larix decidua

Gone to the Big Cool

2011-07-10T04:12:00.001-06:00

I'm off on vacation for a couple of weeks. I'll be enjoying the cool, foggy coast and redwood forests of northern California. In the meantime, happy gardening!

Stop & Look

2011-07-08T15:21:00.000-06:00

Once my heart stopped pounding from the shock of almost stepping on this big fat guy, I grabbed my camera for a few quick shots.

a hornworm of some sort...

As often happens, I couldn't really see the details of the beautiful color patterning on his skin until I downloaded the images onto my computer and gave them a good cropping.

The ideal mix of formal and informal rhythm that we often strive for in our garden designs.

If this were a fabric...

Wordless Wednesday 7.06.2011

2011-07-06T02:30:00.002-06:00

aaahhhhh! Hosta cool...

The Most Provocative Plant...

2011-07-01T14:27:00.000-06:00

During the recent Wheat Ridge Garden Tour there was one plant in my garden that garnered the most curiosity and questions: Glaucium flavum, horned poppy. Its alluring silvery-blue foliage and wanton orange flowers created quite a stir amongst my garden guests!

Sizzlin' silver foliage looks great all summer

Horned poppy is an import from western Europe that prefers light, sandy soil - it's become invasive in some coastal regions; it also goes by the name sea poppy. It's a member of the poppy family, Papaveraceae, but is not of the genus Papaver, as are the more familiar oriental (P. orientale), alpine (P. alpinus) and Icelandic (P. nudicaule) poppies. (Our native, white flowering prickley poppies are of the genus Argemone.)

the new emerging foliage is quite "hairy"

Glaucium flavum is not a biennial, as I originally thought, but a short lived perennial. I let it go to seed in my garden and it jumps around from bed to bed.

A great accent plant for the xeric garden (if you can stand its flighty ways), it grows about 18 - 24 inches tall and flowers for several weeks from mid-June on. These plants are not widely available at garden centers, so best to grow them from seed, or beg one from a gardening friend (like I did!). Then stand back, and enjoy the seduction of Glaucium flavum!

Wordless Wednesday 6.29.2011

2011-06-29T01:10:00.002-06:00

Gotcha!

Wordless Wednesday 6.22.2011

2011-06-22T01:50:00.001-06:00

From the courtyard garden of The Denver Puppet Theater. Design by Annie Zook

Wheat Ridge Garden Tour 6.26.2011

2011-06-18T01:14:00.001-06:00

Would you like to see what's beyond the garden gate?

Well, now's your chance... my garden will be part of the first-ever Wheat Ridge Garden Tour!

See the worm farm!

Meet the koi!

Relax in the shade of my favorite tree!

Jim and I will be here to show you the highlights and answer your questions about gardening, design, and landscape construction.

When: Sunday, June 26th, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Where: Tickets and Maps at the Richards-Hart Estate, West 28th Avenue and Benton Street
Cost: $10.00 (sorry, no advance ticket sales)

Don't forget to bring your camera!

Photo Friday 6.17.2011

2011-06-17T01:47:00.003-06:00

Iris germanica and Tradescantia virginiana (blooming in The Art Garden in early June)

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day 6.15.2011

2011-06-15T07:06:00.000-06:00

This may well be the most floriferous day of the year!!

My garden is bursting at the seams with blooming plants; some are on the wane, some are in their prime, and others are just starting to emerge. Fifty-two different plants, to be exact.

Only a few woody shrubs flowering now: beauty bush, Apache plume, and and unknown variety of Potentilla. The Apache plume, Fallugia paradoxa, has simple (OK, boring) flowers, but just wait till you see the seed heads!

clearly a member of the rose family, Rosaceae

full of fluffy funness!

My small Syringa reticulata AKA Japanese tree lilac, is just barely starting to flower - a bit later than usual - but it will look like this in just a few days:

One plant that I always get questions about is this Allium christophii. The flower heads are typically softball sized on 12"-30" stems, but this one is spectacular!

Not a trick photo! My palm is on the flowers, my finger span is 7 inches.

I like the look of the dried seed heads, they remind me of fireworks bursting in the sky, so I've let them seed throughout the garden. A great on line source for these bulbs, and many others is Brent and Becky's. Right now is the perfect time to order bulbs for fall planting!

Another plant that is starting to flower now is this pink Maltese cross, Lychnis chalcedonia
I love the dusty rose color, softer than the traditional - and more common - red form. It can go fairly dry if it's sited to receive afternoon shade.

Crambe cordifolia is another WOW plant this time of year. The large foliage - think rhubarb sized leaves - adds bold texture, and the five foot tall (yes!) inflorescence is spectacular.

The beautiful silver foliage of horned poppy, Glaucium flavum, is a treat all summer, but the orange blooms are certainly cheery in the garden now:

Be sure to join Carol at May Dreams Gardens to link up with all the other gardeners showing their favorites today!

Now, just one more before I go... bearded iris, Iris germanica, are - oddly enough - still going strong. All of my iris have been acquired as giveaways from friends, so I don't have a clue as to their "proper" names. This one is a favorite:

If you like this iris photo, just wait till you see my Photo Friday post...stay tuned!

Meet. . . Kolkwitzia!

2011-06-13T16:26:00.000-06:00

That's right; coal-QUIT-see-uh! Also known as beauty bush, Kolkwitzia amabilis is one of those great, old fashioned shrubs that's experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Why?

First, it's incredibly floriferous at a time - right now! - when few other shrubs are in bloom. The bell shaped flowers are a soft pink that blends well with other colors, cool hues in particular.

I love the golden, lace-like pattern hiding inside the flowers

Second, the pale, exfoliating (peeling) bark is unusual and a great feature for winter interest.

Third, its large vase/fountain form makes it ideal to use as a single specimen. In fact, with a bit of focused pruning, this plant could function as a small, ornamental tree; mature height is 10-15 feet.

A giant beauty bush in old north Denver

Last, Kolkwitzia is very adaptable. It tolerates full sun or partial shade and has low water needs. Companion plants for my beautibush (below) include Centranthus, Ceratostigma, and Allium christophii.

this young Kolkwitsia 'Pink Cloud' in my garden will max out at 6-10 feet

Bonus points if you guessed that this photo - featured last week on Wordless Wednesday - is Kolkwitzia!

Wordless Wednesday 6.08.2011

2011-06-08T01:21:00.001-06:00

This woody shrub is blooming in my garden right now. Any guesses on its identity?

And we Have our Winners!

2011-06-07T09:58:00.000-06:00

Marilynn and Deb will each be receiving a pair of tickets to The Enchanted Gardens Tour! Thanks for playing along, and have a great time!

Enchanted Gardens Tour and Free Tickets!

2011-06-03T05:00:00.001-06:00

Saturday, June 11^th from 9am-4pm

rain or shine

The Conflict Center

4140 Tejon St, Denver, Colorado

This is one of one f my favorite garden tours in the Denver area because it showcases fun, funky, intriguing, and very personal landscapes. Most of the featured gardens are the result of the homeowners' own creativity and passion for gardening. There are no cookie-cutter, production style landscapes here, no sir!

From the tour sponsor:

Tour a variety of Northwest Denver's unique and inspiring gardens and bid on Fantastic auction items (including a design consultation with yours truly!). Then unwind at the after-party, located at the 23rd Avenue Sculpture Studio at 23rd and King. All proceeds benefit The Conflict Center, celebrating 24 years of violence prevention.

For more information on The Conflict Center or the Garden Tour, call 303-433-4983 or click here.

Win Free Tickets!

And now for the really fun part: The Conflict Center has given me two pairs of tickets to give away to my blog readers! If you would like to win a pair of tickets for the tour (a $30 value!) simply leave a comment on this post by midnight, June 6th. A random drawing will be held on June 7th, and the winners announced here. Remember to leave your contact information!

Thanks for participating, and good luck...

Wordless Wednesday 6.01.2011

2011-06-01T02:24:00.001-06:00

Kashmir sage, Phlomis cashmeriana Read more about this beautiful, xeric plant here.

Wordless Wednesday 5.25.2011

2011-05-25T03:09:00.003-06:00

Viburnum opulus, aka snowball bush

Garden Designers Roundtable: Stone

2011-05-24T04:27:00.001-06:00

Undulating walls of Colorado flagstone create a unique signature for this landscape. Design: Ivy Street Design, Denver

Want an outdoor environment that embodies a spirit of place - genius loci?

Think stone.

No other hardscape component provides the same sense of grounded permanence, color, and texture to the landscape. In the Rocky Mountain region we're all about stone: granite, sandstone, rhyolite, and more.

But what about other regions of the US or the UK? Go here and follow the links to learn more about stone in the landscape. Enjoy!

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day 5.15.2011

2011-05-15T01:32:00.001-06:00

pigsqueek, Bergenia cordifolia

Yesterday, between the rains, I managed to snap a few photos of this month's featured flowers. A number of plants have just finished flowering and many more are just gearing up to bloom. Here are a few that are prime for May's GBBD...

bronze-leaf ajuga, Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' (a bit of Chrysnathemum and Geranium foliage mixed in as well!)

candytuft, Iberis sempervirens (with dragon's blood sedum in the foreground)

last of the tulips, Tulipa sp.


first of the native spiderwort, Tradescantia occidentalis

creeping Oregon grape holly, Mahonia repens

Turkish speedwell, Veronica liwanensis

woolly creeping speedwell, Veronica pectinata

basket-of-gold alyssum, Aurinia saxatilis

Please be sure to visit Carol at May Dreams' Gardens to link to gardeners worldwide that are also participating in Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

Wordless Wednesday 5.11.2011

2011-05-11T03:44:00.001-06:00

Photo Friday 5.06.2011

2011-05-06T01:41:00.000-06:00

Pulsatilla vulgaris, European pasque flower

One of my favorite spring bloomers to photograph! Shown here at Denver Botanic Gardens

Wordless Wednesday 5.4.2011

2011-05-04T03:16:00.001-06:00

the subtle blooms of Forestiera neomexicana, New Mexico privet

Warm vs Cool

2011-05-02T03:36:00.000-06:00

Warm season grasses versus cool season grasses, that is.

left: buffalo grass, Bucheloe dactyloides - right: Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis

In this photo from my yard you can see the distinct difference that characterizes the growth cycle of these two categories of grass. At the end of April the cool season bluegrasses and fescues typically used for residential lawns in our region are actively growing and bright green. The warm season native prairie grasses such as buffalo and gramma are still mostly dormant.

On the Street . . . Little Raven Street, Denver

2011-04-29T02:50:00.002-06:00

This scene caught my attention a few weeks ago. The bamboo, boxwood and pansies all looked great, considering the dry and windy winter/spring we've experienced. These are all water loving plants in a hot (west facing) urban setting. Obviously they are hardy, but what a missed opportunity to showcase more drought tolerant, sustainable plants.

Garden Designers' Roundtable: Go-to plants!

2011-04-25T23:59:00.003-06:00

Best plants. Favorite plants. Go-to plants. This month's edition of the Garden Designers' Roundtable is all about the plants! Be sure to visit our web site for a wonderful introduction to this topic and the links to today's participants.

Most landscape designers keep a mental Rolodex of plants on call for specific sites and uses. This file is constantly being updated and edited as new plants are introduced to the market and others fall out of favor. However, there are some plants that I know I can depend on; they are hardy, relatively trouble free, and have multiple growth (cultural) or decorative qualities to recommend them. So, without further ado, here is my list of go-to plants:

Deciduous Trees

Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis

Kentucky Coffeetree, Gymnocladus dioicus

Oak, Quercus sp.

Honeylocust, Gleditsia triacanthos

Japanese Tree Lilac, Syringa reticulata

Serviceberry, Amelanchier sp.*

Hawthorn, Crataegus sp.*

Deciduous Shrubs

Gro-Low Sumac, Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’

Apache Plume, Fallugia paradoxa

Western Sand Cherry, Prunus besseyi var. ‘Pawnee Buttes’

Fernbush, Chamaebatiara millefolium

New Mexico Privet, Forestiera neomexicana

Blue Mist Spirea, Caryopteris incana

Barberry, Berberis sp. *

Lilac, Syringa patula sp.

Butterfly Bush, Buddleia davidii

Beautybush, Kolkwitzia amabilis

Golden Currant, Ribes aureum

Spirea, Spiraea sp. *

Cameo Quince, Chaenomeles japonica ‘Cameo’ *

Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster sp. *
Viburnum, Viburnum sp.*
Ninebark, Physocarpus sp.*

Annabelle Hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ *

Evergreen Trees

Pinon Pine, Pinus cembroides var. edulis

Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa

Vanderwolf’s Limber Pine, Pinus flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’

Evergreen Shrubs

Oregon Grape Holly, Mahonia sp.

Euonymus sp. *

Hardy manzanita, Arctostaphylos x coloradensis

Hillside Creeper Pine, Pinus sylvestris ‘Hillside Creeper’*

Yucca sp.

Big Tuna Mugo Pine, Pinus mugo ‘Big Tuna’

Perennial Flowers, Grasses and Groundcovers

Whirling Butterflies, Gaura lindheimeri

Powis Castle Sage, Artemesia ‘Powis Castle’*

Moonshine Yarrow, Achillea ‘Moonshine’
Creeping Speedwell, Veronica sp.

Giant Silver Mullen, Verbascum bombiciferum

Autumn Joy Sedum, Sedum spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’

Sunset Hyssop, Agastache rupestris

Variegated Iris, Iris pallida

Orange Carpet Hummingbird Flower, Zauschneria garrettii

English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia

Plumbago, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides*

Penstemon sp.

Red Valerian, Centranthus ruber

Missouri Evening Primrose, Oenothera macrocarpa

Globethistle, Echinops ritro

Zagreb Coreopsis, Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’

Sunrose, Helianthemum nummularium

Paeonia sp. *

Geranium sp. *

False Indigo, Baptisia australis

Russian Sage, Perovskia artiplicifolia

Candytuft, Iberis sempervirens

Little Bluestem Grass, Schizachyrium scoparium

Blue Avena Grass, Helictotricon sempervirons

Maiden Grass, Miscanthus sinensis *

Switch Grass, Panicum virgatum *

* These plants (or related species) will need moderately moist conditions.

This list may seem short - considering the many hundreds of plants that grow well in our area - so think of it as a super-deluxe "top 10" list! You will notice that most of my go-to plants are tried and true main stays of the mid-west, inter-mountain west, and upland southwest regions of the US. Hence, the name: "go-to" plants! The bulk of any landscape or garden should consist of well adapted, low maintenance plants and this list is a great place to start. (Read this post to learn about a few oddball plants to throw into the mix.)

Please visit these participating members of the Garden Designer's Roundtable for planting inspiration for your region and beyond...

Nan Ondra : Hayefield : Bucks County, PA
Andrew Keys : Garden Smackdown : Boston, MA
Christina Salwitz : Personal Garden Coach : Renton, WA
Genevieve Schmidt : North Coast Gardening : Arcata, CA
Ivette Soler : The Germinatrix : Los Angeles, CA
Jocelyn Chilvers : The Art Garden : Denver, CO
Laura Livengood Schaub : Interleafings : San Jose, CA
Lesley Hegarty & Robert Webber : Hegarty Webber Partnership : Bristol, UK
Rebecca Sweet : Gossip In the Garden : Los Altos, CA
Rochelle Greayer : Studio G : Boston, MA
Susan Morrison : Blue Planet Garden Blog : East Bay, CA

Wordless Wednesday 4.20.2011

2011-04-20T02:42:00.001-06:00

Enterprising! Ribes aureum finds the sun...

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day 4.15.2011

2011-04-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

Mid April finds a few more flowers blooming in my Colorado garden, although it's the greening of the landscape that is most evident right now! Here are a few bloomers to share with you:

These little species tulips bloom happily in the buffalo grass of my prairie garden

Don't forget to look inside your tulips!

I can't really capture the perfect blue of this hyacinth - nor the exquisite fragrance

Daffodils are pure sunshine!

'Cameo' quince buds ready to burst

Serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance' is pretty brilliant in the spring as well!

Don't forget to visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens to find links to other gardens from around the world that are sharing their colorful blooms today too!

Wordless Wednesday 4.13.2011

2011-04-13T03:01:00.003-06:00

I love the subtle washes of color on this tulip!

On the Street...Teller Street, Wheat Ridge

2011-04-11T01:27:00.001-06:00

A gentleman in my neighborhood worked for years as a plant propagator at a local greenhouse. Although retired now, he still can't resist spring's call to prepare plants (especially Pelargoniums) for the summer season! He wheels these carts out for a few hours each day to get the plants hardened off and ready to sell.

A Special Invitation . . .

2011-04-08T03:43:00.001-06:00

Girlfriends Night Out at Echter's Garden Center is a Party With a Purpose!

Join me on April 14th, 5:00-8:00PM in this beautiful, flower-filled venue to benefit the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, supporting cancer research and treatment.

Local restaurants and caterers will offer wine and food samplings as you stroll through the greenhouses and enjoy live musical entertainment. Other businesses will showcase their jewelry, handbags and accessories, body care products, financial advise, travel opportunities, and more! I'll be available to answer your questions about landscape design, plant selection and care, and the latest garden trends for 2010. Door prizes and special discounts will be part of the fun.

Tickets are $15.00, with $10.00 of your ticket price going directly to the Vera Bradley Foundation. Echter's is also donating 15% of the evening's sales. Tickets are limited, so call 303-424-7979 in advance to purchase yours.

Bring your girlfriends for a special evening; you won't want to miss this Party With a Purpose!

Wordless Wednesday 4.06.2011

2011-04-06T01:54:00.004-06:00

Magnolia sp. (perhaps Magnolia x loebneri 'Merrill?)

Photo Friday 4.1.2011 - April Fool's Edition

2011-04-01T08:24:00.000-06:00

What's wrong with this photo?

variegated Vinca minor

The joke's on me! This morning, when I took this photograph, I didn't even notice the piece of twine there - a mere six inches from the camera. It wasn't until I downloaded the photo that it became obvious. Good grief.

Happy weekend, everyone!

You say you Want a Revolution?

2011-03-29T08:36:00.000-06:00

It's peak time for garden clean up; we've certainly been going at it like mad dogs here in The Art Garden! Now, what to do with all of the waste? If you want to live a greener lifestyle, then please, please, please don't put it out for the trash guy!

There are better alternatives than sending all of this organic matter to the landfill. I compost garden trimmings and kitchen scraps on a regular basis, but my spring clean-up overwhelms my system (which I recently described here) and storage space. Therefore, I’ll go to Plan B…
...Take it to a recycling facility that will use it for their compost making business. Gather up your branches, dead perennial tops, ornamental grass clippings, etc. and head to Mountain States Wood Recyclers at 2300 W. Radcliff Ave (303-789-3356). There is a minimum fee, but it’s worth it knowing that all that stuff will be recycled and “reborn” as compost, the gardener’s best friend!

Don't live in the Denver area? A simple "yard waste disposal" Google search may introduce you to a valuable resource in your own community.

Photo Friday 3.25.2011

2011-03-25T10:33:00.000-06:00

Spring cleaning includes the koi pond, too. Here is a look at the process. Jim's hard work from last weekend has been somewhat canceled thanks to the recent high winds. Plant debris and dirt blowing everywhere!

Garden Designers Roundtable: Vertical

2011-03-22T11:30:00.001-06:00

columnar beech, Fagus sp. at Denver Botanic Gardens

Small spaces, tight spaces, just plain boring spaces. A fresh focus on the vertical plane may be just what you need to enhance your garden! Join me in reading all about "the vertical" in this month's offerings by members of the Garden Designers Roundtable. Catch your links here.

Photo Friday 3.18.2011

2011-03-18T03:40:00.002-06:00

Ahhhh, Tulipa!

Foliage Follow Up 3.16.2011

2011-03-16T03:11:00.001-06:00

Foliage plays a big role in every garden, and mine is no exception. In March, the emphasis is on emergence, and I'm always thrilled to see the forms and colors that appear as plants thrust themselves out of the ground.

Here are a few favorites:

Allium sp. I love the little hair -like structures along the edge of the leaves. Details, details...

Galium oderatum (sweet woodruff) These fresh green rosettes are so sweet.

Tradescantia occidentalis (native spiderwort) Isn't that royal purple color fantastic?!

Tulipa sp (perhaps 'Red Riding Hood'?) Who needs flowers with stripy foliage like this?

Doesn't look too exciting now, but these leaves herald the arrival of the bright red species tulips to come.

What's emerging in your garden today?
Please be sure and visit Pam at Digging for more fabulous foliage from gardens near and far!

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day 3.15.2011

2011-03-15T03:47:00.009-06:00

March brings flowers back to my garden and boy, are they a sight for sore eyes!
The few and the precious:

Crocus - white as snow, but more welcome this time of year!

Iris danfordiae - this little gem is about 2" tall x 21/2"wide

silver maple (Acer saccharinum) - a visitor from the neighbor's yard

What's blooming in your garden today? I'll bet you've got me beat...
Please be sure to visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens to discover what's blooming in other gardens around the world!

Photo Friday 3.11.2011

2011-03-11T04:09:00.002-07:00

Kentucky coffee tree, Gymnocladus dioicus, silhouetted against the March sky

"Wormost" for Lazy Gardeners*

2011-03-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

By now I think everyone knows the value of adding organic matter to their soil to improve its structure and provide nutrients for better plant growth. Gardeners can use their plant cuttings and kitchen waste to create their own compost or worm castings. Most compost and vermicomposting pros have lots of little rules and regulations designed to help you maximize your production but frankly, the Lazy Gardener* can't be bothered.

The Lazy Gardener* finds a protected location outdoors that has afternoon shade in the summer and warming sunshine in the winter. The Lazy Gardener* gathers 3-5 large plastic containers (these are 3' diameter nursery pots, but anything will do) and drills the bottoms and sides with holes for drainage and air circulation. The Lazy Gardener* fills the containers - keeping one container empty to use in the turning/harvesting process - with alternating layers of green garden/grass cuttings, kitchen waste, garden soil, a bit of water, dry organic matter (i.e. leaves from last fall and "clean up" waste from this spring, shredded paper, fine wood mulch, etc) and redworms (borrowed from the garden or purchased at the bait shop.) The Lazy Gardener* then stands back and lets Nature take its course, occasionally supplementing the containers' mixture of organics and water.

Eventually, even the Lazy Gardener* has to put a bit of muscle into the project in order to harvest and distribute the wonderful "wormost"**.

Jim made this "shuffle sieve" to fit my "baby sized" wheelbarrow

my precious pets

chunky stuff goes back into the containers, layered with fresh organics

ready to distribute in the garden

This method of creating an organic soil amendment is cheap and easy, and has the added satisfaction of knowing that less waste is bound for the landfill.

thank you, worms!

*Um, that would be me.
**a made-up term: the result of cold composting supplemented with worms.

Photo Friday 3.4.2011

2011-03-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

come on green!