Denver Dry Garden: Waterwise Garden Inspiration In The Mile High City

In Denver, Colorado, this classic white bungalow is keeping in style with the other historic homes on a charming neighborhood street. However, this classic home's back yard breaks all the molds for what you would expect from a traditional yard! 

Our customer (and new friend) Heidi has transformed the entire square footage of her back yard into a colorful, creative, and effusively cheerful garden. And, this joyful garden is a clear reflection of her joyful personality. We visited on a hot, sunny fall afternoon when the garden was in its late-season splendor. Read on to learn more about the hard work behind the garden, and learn more about the waterwise plants thriving in Denver's dry climate.

Heidi takes inspiration for her garden from the amazing community of Western gardeners, and over the years, she has made connections with many of the amazing plant people in the Denver and Fort Collins area. 

A long-time follower of High Country Gardens, Heidi also cited founder David Salman as an important source of inspiration and education in her gardening journey, as well as horticulturists at the nearby Denver Botanic Gardens, and the fine folks at PlantSelect. 

Her Colorado garden is a beautiful display of perennials - including many rare and unique plants from High Country Gardens, such as 'Ava' Agastache, 'Zig Zag' Grama Grass, and 'Judith's Favorite' Fame Flower. Through her love of gardening, Heidi has built many friendships with fellow plant lovers in the area.

Heidi's garden features a spectacular array of plant specimens, which results in a beautiful variety of textures, colors, flower forms, and plant heights. Breezy grasses add movement. Airy flower spikes from Agastache, Salvia, and upright Goldenrod add bold color and vertical interest. Mounding perennials such as Artemisia and compact dwarf Chrysothamnus add a softness to complement their spiky neighbors. Succulents and creeping groundcovers line pathways and create a capret of color and texture beneath their taller companions.

Every corner of this xeriscaped yard features creative combinations of color and texture. In the bright Colorado sun, these waterwise plants are thriving and putting on a stunning show.

The stunning array of flowers and foliage in Heidi's garden attracts a beautiful array of pollinators. At our visit, Hummingbirds were sipping nectar from the Agastache, and many native bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, moths, and other flying friends were fueling their flight with nectar and pollen, flying from flower to flower. 

This backyard garden is not just an oasis for plant-loving people - it's also an oasis for pollinators!

This garden is a labor of love, and Heidi has worked for years to bring the vision to life. Guiding visitors through the garden, nearly every plant specimen has a story - whether it's about how she carefully chose that plant, or a story about the gardening friend who gifted her the plant, or the special care that she takes to ensure the plant thrives despite Colorado's unpredictable and extreme weather.

The hardscaping elements also enhance the waterwise garden. Crushed stone serves multiple purposes - as mulch for plants, creating elegant pathways, and enhancing the garden's warm color palette.

Stone pavers create gentle winding pathways through the garden, inviting visitors to discover new plant pairings throughout the yard. 

There are many rock garden vignettes as well, with stones to complement the charismatic cacti and succulents (as well as help to keep them warm in cooler months). 

Beyond the dazzling garden designs, our waterwise plants contribute to a robust ecosystem where people, plants, and wildlife thrive.