Featured Garden: Ivy Street Garden

As a small child I would visit my grandmother who was a sensational gardener. Every morning she would take me outside, and we would go around the house looking at all the lovely plants. She would tell me a story about each one; I loved doing it and began gardening on my own in my 20s. I also developed a love of insects as well. As a master gardener I've attended many classes given by our extension group, and the lecturer, Whitney Cranshaw, waxes poetically about insects...they are so valuable to our gardens!

It is so hard to choose as my garden is an eclectic collection of lots of delightful things. During the different seasons of the garden my favorites evolve. I love my Black Lace Sambucas in the spring with their pink umbells against the black foliage; I love the tall, graceful girly frittilaria in the spring; I love my Japanese Red Pine in the winter. Having just built an espalier on which I entwined two different colors of trumpet vine, I love watching its progression...will it bloom this year?

I am lucky to have lots of different features that I love. The outdoor dining area is so fun to share with friends and the Stone Forest millstone fountain is lovely to listen to. Having recently installed raised vegetable beds, I pour over seed catalogs when it is 10 below zero (as it is today) hoping I don't overindulge!

We have tons of clay soil in Colorado, so I am constantly amending, amending, amending.

The very best thing that a new gardener can do is amend the soil. Read plant labels for zones, water needs, exposure, etc. And remember, you can do everything right, but your plant baby may just not like where it is planted. Don't be discouraged.