My Great Outdoors: Jksponz's Prairie Garden

Name: Jksponz

Location: Lakewood, Colorado

Type of space: Front Yard

Tell us about your outdoor project and how you enjoy it: Our front yard has been a work-in-progress since moving in 8 years ago. We started by putting in a xeric garden along the sidewalk in 2003. During the Colorado drought that followed the next couple years, our front yard bluegrass and maple tree suffered (the previous owners neglected to remove the wire around the tree's roots as well, which did not help) So we decided to go all out and replace it all with a water thrifty prairie garden in 2007. The front yard now is a great place for butterflies, bees and the neighborhood cats that love to lounge in it!

How did you create it?:
We started by letting the bluegrass die. Then we then rototilled and added compost. The prairie garden was an ordered, pre-planned garden from High Country Gardens in Sante Fe, made up of xeric blue gramma and buffalo grasses and various other native plants. I added the wild flower seeds a year later.

Recommended store, site, product or resource?
High Country Gardens is a great resource for Western gardeners. Also Timberline gardens in Arvada, CO.

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Comments (6)

I really, really love your garden. I used to live in South Dakota, and it reminds me of the beautiful prairie grasses and flowers that were able to thrive in that hot, dry climate. It's so cool that your garden can thrive without intensive irrigation. Way to go!

posted by elizinphilly on June 17th 2009 at 7:23pm
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Wow, that looks great! I love the untamed, natural look of xeriscape. I'm in Colorado, and I'm working on transforming my yard,but my brown thumb is a hinderance.

posted by Blueleaf on June 17th 2009 at 7:27pm
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Love the different colors and textures!

posted by sassydo on June 17th 2009 at 7:44pm
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I love your garden! I live in a townhome near Washington Park in Denver and my neighbors and I are getting close to having a maintenance free garden area in our central courtyard. I love your plant choices for this drought-prone environment (although you wouldn't know we've been in a drought for the past 2-3 weeks). I'd love to plant some similar xeriscape-friendly plants here.

I will definitely check out High Country Gardens and Timberline. Thanks for the tip!

P.S. Blueleaf, I can't even keep houseplants alive, so I feel your brown-thumb pain!

posted by traderdi on June 17th 2009 at 7:46pm
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Amazing! I would not think a prairie garden could be so lush.

posted by jeffnyc on June 18th 2009 at 8:19am
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Your initial decision and the work you've put into it since have paid off. The effect is fantastic.

posted by minihaus on June 18th 2009 at 9:46am
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