Suzanne M. Stewart shared photos today from her garden:
I am submitting some photos from Glenwood Springs, which is on the western slope (best slope) of Colorado. My husband, Dave Winsor, and I live in Zone 6 at an elevation of 6000 feet in a south-facing home. Our climate is very arid, and what I finally figured out after being here for 15 years is that we needed to create pocket gardens within our yard. Like all gardens, it has been a process—trial and error, moving plants and removing plants that haven’t worked in their space.
Facing south with over 225 days of sunshine at 6000 feet means you choose perennials carefully. A variety of coneflowers (Echinacea spp., Zones 3–9), roses (Rosa hybrids), pincushion flowers (Scabiosa, Zones 3–8), penstemon, Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum × superbum, Zones 5–8), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia spp.), and barberries (Berberis thunbergii, Zones 5–8) are staples in our front garden.
Coneflowers
When it came time to divide some of the perennials, Dave chose to plant them on our rocky untended front and back hillsides. I thought he was crazy, but look at them now! Some of the daisies are almost my height (5 feet, 10 inches). He threw some tickweed (Coreopsis) seeds in, and they are happy year after year, too.
Black-eyed Susans
With a 3-foot overhang across the front of the house, I can have potted coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides, Zone 11 or annual) and wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina, Zone 11) on one side of the front door, with succulents and cactus on the other side.
I also have a passion for all things succulent and cacti. For the most part they are in pots that I move inside in the cold months.
And I found a place for a quiet spot on the back hillside as well. It makes me happy.
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Comments
Just stunning, what a beautiful garden you have created. Thank you for taking pictures of the garden itself rather than just the plants and flowers out of context, love it!
Thank you Vezpasia! I enjoy taking the pictures and 'showing off the setting' because I believe it does help to understand what is going on in the environment.
Monday January 21, 2019 they will feature my garden in winter...little harder to capture but I hope you enjoy.
P.S. I just created an account which is why I am replying just now.
I really enjoyed your photos and commentary today, Suzanne. Your flower covered hillsides are glorious and it must be downright amazing to stand in front of those humongous clumps of Shasta daisies. Congrats on finding the right formula of plants to make your gardens beautiful.
Thank you Michaele! The formula is ever-changing, as you well know. Who knows what next year brings...
Monday January 21, 2019 they will feature my garden in winter...little harder to capture but I hope you enjoy. P.S. I just created an account which is why I am replying just now.
I just don't know what to say. Amazingly beautiful! But those words sure seem inadequate - you have nature all around you with what you have planted. Wowzer!!!!!!
Thank you treasuresmom! Mother Nature has created a great palette to use as a starting point - no doubt. Monday January 21, 2019 they will feature my garden in winter...little harder to capture but I hope you enjoy. P.S. I just created an account which is why I am replying just now.
I live in zone 6 in Michigan, and I've found that the lovely new varieties of rudbeckia don't do well for me, and die off within a year. They seem to need the drier thinner soil of Colorado! Congratulations on a lovely garden in a challenging environment!
Thank you Denisey! Not all of my rudbeckia will be there next summer - they are older and not as healthy as I would like...new can be good. Mother Nature has created a great palette to use as a starting point - no doubt. Monday January 21, 2019 they will feature my garden in winter...little harder to capture but I hope you enjoy. P.S. I just created an account which is why I am replying just now.
What a wonderful garden in a magnificent setting - thanks for sharing!
Thank you BTucker9675!
Monday January 21, 2019 they will feature my garden in winter...little harder to capture but I hope you enjoy.
P.S. I just created an account which is why I am replying just now.
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