Garden Notes.
Thoughts for a life
closer to the ground.
Practical ideas for planning and enjoying a Colorado garden.
Care for the garden when growth slows down.
A measured autumn and winter routine for checking moisture, protecting access and deciding what can remain standing.
5 minute read
Design for the months between flowers.
A garden’s lasting shapes can make autumn and winter as considered as the height of summer.
3 minute read
Let grasses give the garden its rhythm.
Use scale, repetition and seasonal change to make grasses part of a considered planting composition.
5 minute read
The first season needs its own watering plan.
Connect planting, irrigation and observation so that a new garden receives appropriate establishment care and can change as it grows.
5 minute read
A good garden surface begins with how you move.
Choose stone, gravel and garden edges through everyday use, maintenance and the way each material meets the next.
5 minute read
Choose the tree for the room it will become.
Look beyond nursery size to mature canopy, roots, shade and the relationship between a small tree and the rest of the garden.
5 minute read
Make a garden that offers more than flowers.
Think in seasons, layers and small habitat decisions when planning a Colorado garden for native pollinators.
5 minute read
Give the shaded part of the garden a purpose.
Look closely at light, existing roots and everyday use before turning a cool corner into another flower bed.
5 minute read
Change the lawn at the pace of the garden.
Keep the grass that earns its place, rethink awkward edges and plan a lawn conversion you can establish and care for well.
5 minute read
The right plant starts with the place.
Sun, soil, space and elevation make a better starting point than a favorite photograph.
3 minute read
Work with the ground beneath your garden.
A practical way to understand clay-rich soil, distinguish drainage from compaction and make better decisions before planting.
5 minute read
A small garden can hold a generous life.
Plan a compact outdoor space around the things you actually do, with room to move, sit and let the planting grow.
5 minute read
A water-wise garden starts with a plan.
Before choosing plants, get clear about what your garden needs to do—and what the site can support.
3 minute read