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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The 19th annual Grand Valley Garden Tour is taking place Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This longest running western Colorado garden tour never fails to delight and inspire gardeners with innovative approaches, creative solutions to common problems, and original use of plant materials. Sponsored by the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and Colorado State University Extension, this year's tour features five unique private gardens, and two magnificent public ones.
This year's gardens include several outstanding examples of xeriscape, or water-wise gardening. Reflecting a specifically western esthetic, xeriscape gardens enhance the natural beauty of the arid west while actively conserving water. Through careful selection of plant materials and irrigation techniques, these gardens can be quite lush and colorful, with rich textures all year long.
Xeriscape is usually defined as having seven basic principles. These begin with plan and design, as a xeric garden is not a “buy and plunk” garden; it requires some advance organization. Soil improvement is also critical, as it is for any successful garden in western Colorado.
The selection of appropriate plants, grouping them according to water needs and irrigating them efficiently are logical steps. Xeriscape is not anti-turf, but does promote the idea that turf should have a purpose, even if that is only to provide a quiet, restful backdrop to the more colorful and textural plants in the garden. Limit turf to those areas where it is meeting some need. Finally, use mulch to retain moisture and maintain the garden properly. Imaginative use of hardscape is another common factor in xeric gardens. See how many of these concepts you can identify as you tour these interesting sites.
Not all the gardens on the tour are xeric, though all do use water thoughtfully and appropriately, and all feature interesting hardscape. We think you'll enjoy the variety of offerings this year.
Our two public gardens are the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and the Gardens and Arboretum at the Colorado State University Extension office. Both of us have developed and expanded our gardens during the last year. You'll want to be sure to take in the exciting Shozan-en at WCBG, an awesome garden that combines an oriental gardening philosophy with a southwestern plant palette. The Butterfly House and the Conservatory are part of the tour, as are all the other gardens. The Western Colorado Botanical Gardens are located at the south end of Seventh Street.
Located on the Mesa County Fairgrounds, the Arboretum at the Extension office is nearing completion five years after the initial plantings. This ambitious project is designed to demonstrate the variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials that can tolerate our soils and growing conditions. Considering that we began with soil salts of 26 millimhos (Kentucky bluegrass will tolerate three) we have quite a tale to tell about successful amending soil. As well as the many unique plants, the Arboretum also features a crabapple collection and our turfgrass demonstration plots with more than 30 varieties of lawn grasses. An amphitheater with seating for 100 is centrally located.
Our newest project is the Ute Learning Garden, two-and-a-half acres featuring native plants from the many life zones of Colorado. As you stroll along the meandering paths, you'll move through many different elevations of Colorado, with their unique plant communities. A nugan (the Ute name for a tipi) graces the Learning Garden, and a “Three Sisters” planting area has just been added. While you're here, don't miss our adaptive and container garden, the herb and lavender beds, the roses and ornamental grasses, and the fascinating cactus and succulent garden.
You'll need to begin your tour at one of these two locations, as they are the only places the tickets will be sold, and on the days of the tour only. The cost is $10, cash or check. When you get your ticket, you'll receive a booklet with maps to the rest of the delightful gardens.
Master Gardeners will be present in all the gardens to answer plant questions, musicians and artists will be in several locations, and the homeowners will be happy to share their gardening adventures with you. You won't want to miss this year's rewarding Grand Valley Garden Tour.
For more information, contact the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens at 245-9030, or the CSU Extension office at 244-1836. We are beginning our search for gardens for the 2011 tour, so if you'd like to be considered, contact us at one of the above numbers.
This longest running western Colorado garden tour never fails to delight and inspire gardeners with innovative approaches, creative solutions to common problems, and original use of plant materials. Sponsored by the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and Colorado State University Extension, this year's tour features five unique private gardens, and two magnificent public ones.
This year's gardens include several outstanding examples of xeriscape, or water-wise gardening. Reflecting a specifically western esthetic, xeriscape gardens enhance the natural beauty of the arid west while actively conserving water. Through careful selection of plant materials and irrigation techniques, these gardens can be quite lush and colorful, with rich textures all year long.
Xeriscape is usually defined as having seven basic principles. These begin with plan and design, as a xeric garden is not a “buy and plunk” garden; it requires some advance organization. Soil improvement is also critical, as it is for any successful garden in western Colorado.
The selection of appropriate plants, grouping them according to water needs and irrigating them efficiently are logical steps. Xeriscape is not anti-turf, but does promote the idea that turf should have a purpose, even if that is only to provide a quiet, restful backdrop to the more colorful and textural plants in the garden. Limit turf to those areas where it is meeting some need. Finally, use mulch to retain moisture and maintain the garden properly. Imaginative use of hardscape is another common factor in xeric gardens. See how many of these concepts you can identify as you tour these interesting sites.
Not all the gardens on the tour are xeric, though all do use water thoughtfully and appropriately, and all feature interesting hardscape. We think you'll enjoy the variety of offerings this year.
Our two public gardens are the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and the Gardens and Arboretum at the Colorado State University Extension office. Both of us have developed and expanded our gardens during the last year. You'll want to be sure to take in the exciting Shozan-en at WCBG, an awesome garden that combines an oriental gardening philosophy with a southwestern plant palette. The Butterfly House and the Conservatory are part of the tour, as are all the other gardens. The Western Colorado Botanical Gardens are located at the south end of Seventh Street.
Located on the Mesa County Fairgrounds, the Arboretum at the Extension office is nearing completion five years after the initial plantings. This ambitious project is designed to demonstrate the variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials that can tolerate our soils and growing conditions. Considering that we began with soil salts of 26 millimhos (Kentucky bluegrass will tolerate three) we have quite a tale to tell about successful amending soil. As well as the many unique plants, the Arboretum also features a crabapple collection and our turfgrass demonstration plots with more than 30 varieties of lawn grasses. An amphitheater with seating for 100 is centrally located.
Our newest project is the Ute Learning Garden, two-and-a-half acres featuring native plants from the many life zones of Colorado. As you stroll along the meandering paths, you'll move through many different elevations of Colorado, with their unique plant communities. A nugan (the Ute name for a tipi) graces the Learning Garden, and a “Three Sisters” planting area has just been added. While you're here, don't miss our adaptive and container garden, the herb and lavender beds, the roses and ornamental grasses, and the fascinating cactus and succulent garden.
You'll need to begin your tour at one of these two locations, as they are the only places the tickets will be sold, and on the days of the tour only. The cost is $10, cash or check. When you get your ticket, you'll receive a booklet with maps to the rest of the delightful gardens.
Master Gardeners will be present in all the gardens to answer plant questions, musicians and artists will be in several locations, and the homeowners will be happy to share their gardening adventures with you. You won't want to miss this year's rewarding Grand Valley Garden Tour.
For more information, contact the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens at 245-9030, or the CSU Extension office at 244-1836. We are beginning our search for gardens for the 2011 tour, so if you'd like to be considered, contact us at one of the above numbers.
