Comments on: Re-imagining the Dry Garden – Xeric Gardens in Denver

By: Desert Dweller

Desert Dweller — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 08:28:27 +0000

Your pics from Kendrick Park make me jealous, like te one with the rock angle or plane with the plants nearby! Interesting insights always come from those who view a different place from afresh.

By: Susan in the Pink Hat

Susan in the Pink Hat — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 09:28:52 +0000

The Castilleja species at Jones pass is rhexifolia, for those interested.

The biggest lesson I've learned from dryland gardening is that textural contrast in a planting comes first. Color is secondary. Most people in greener climes usually do it the other way around.

I think that the west is on its way to developing a distinct gardening style, separate from the European models we inherited. Although, western garden does owe a lot to rock gardening, so I suppose it's still derivative.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:32:18 +0000

Thanks very much for this post. Here in Chicago, we are normally not dry, but this year's drought caused tremendous damage. I too have found that many natives require little to no water – though there are drought resistant exotics as well. Prior to this year, I normally did not water at all except for containers and new shrubs.