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Gardening on the Rooftop of the Rocky Mountains, Summer 2024
Gardening on the Rooftop of the Rocky Mountains, Summer 2024
I had the privilege to work with the staff at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens from May 20, 2024 to November 1, 2024! I was honored to work in different areas around the Alpine Gardens including but not limited to high elevation and Caucasus crevice gardens, meadows, water wise, pollinator, vegetable, and saxifrage gardens. I performed research to accession, showcase habitat representation, and upkeep cleanliness in a botanical garden setting. There were many times we experienced field days with their conservation team and participate in educational days with youth and visitors.
My Love for Public Horticulture
My Love for Public Horticulture
I've been working in public gardens for the past 4 years and have found great enjoyment working amongst visitors. Some days lots of visitors have questions or comments where my desired projects almost feel like they move in reverse. I've led many tours for groups around the garden which I am pleased to highlight the history the garden holds and my passion for how some plants are spotlighted and grow around the garden. It's a delight to give special tours, always love family and friends visiting in these new places. Other times it's delightful to just greet with 'good morning' or 'afternoon'. The work feels rewarding every day. Visitors comment on the beauty of the location and appreciation for the work done, I have to admit my duration has not been installs but having the pleasure to maintain, edit and improve areas to showcase the intricate worth they have structured. Most days we work as a team of four, and twice a week have the privilege to plan projects with groups of volunteers to get most work done in areas. Continuing and progressing the vision of these areas are truly a highlight of the job.
Irrigation specialist
Irrigation specialist
With my trial background and turfgrass classes I learned to keep an eye out for the efficiency of an irrigation system, dry spots, leaky or broken heads, and improvements that could be done to create better coverage and happier plants within an area. I'll investigate if something seems off, and poke around for what might be limiting coverage. If it's an extension needed, shrub in the way, or larger plant blocking coverage to those around, there's always a way to improve the scenario as not all irrigation systems are designed for how plants and landscape designs truly mature.
There are two island beds in the middle of the brick road of Betty Ford Way. They were built ~20 years ago. Our director mentioned that she thought I could get one of the islands running as no one knew when it last ran and turn it into a more botanically interesting display. So determination set in. After removing allium, sedums, and yarrow that always wilted when the days got too bright, we dug in to try to find an answer. After a few days of digging, snaking irrigation pipes, watching water drain out after filling with a hose, then further finding where the sleeved irrigation goes under the road, and following a line through the bed, we discovered the irrigation line had been taped when installed AND NOT even connected to the active line! So a line cutter, T-connector, elbow, clamps, and being puzzled why one of two islands didn't run, was resolved and now offer wonderful display space for years to come.
The People Who Make It Special
The People Who Make It Special
It’s the people who truly make this organization a remarkable place to work. Their kindness and welcoming spirit create an environment where everyone feels valued, seen, and appreciated. Whether it’s a friendly smile, a warm greeting, or going the extra mile to ensure every visitor has the best experience, they consistently make a difference. I’m grateful to be part of a team that genuinely cares and strives to bring out the best in everyone they meet. Not all staff pictured, but always in my heart. And always love friends and family visiting.
Trough Gardening
Trough Gardening
Learned, trialed and tested techniques to create perennial containerized micro-climate with troughs! These are great ways to create a miniature gardens if space is limited, to do rock gardening, and mimic conditions alpine and rock plants would grow in for wonderful display! I have had the privilege to purchase and build two and create two themes. A xeric trough tolerable of SD's cold winters with Escobaria leei, Stomatium mustllinum, Cholla, and Armeria. Then a nod to my origins of horticulture at my parents, with Artemesia, columbine, ice plant, and a Townsendia. Although once built, they're a beast to move. It was a special treat designing a trough on the last day, looking forward to seeing how it fills out and overwinters.
Fire Restoration
Fire Restoration
The power of fire to enhance and restore landscapes has fascinated me since my school days and creating a business model called "Torch-It Restoration". It’s incredible how controlled burns can transform areas dominated by herbaceous and woody plants. At our children’s garden, a dense layer of Carex and sedges had taken over, making it impossible to dig or manage. I suggested a controlled burn to tackle the issue, and with the green light, we got to work. Early one morning, armed with a torch and a hose, we carefully focused on removing the unwanted growth. The results were remarkable—many of the invasive root systems stopped returning, leaving us with a clean slate to reseed and reintroduce native plants. Now, the garden is evolving into a whimsical and inviting space where young, curious minds can explore and connect with nature.
Primula vialii
Primula vialii
-- just keeps getting better and better
-- just keeps getting better and better
Found this cutie while weeding out bachelors buttons and truly what a adorable red tipped surprise that has only continuously developed more depth to the red torches that originally protruded. These dancing flowers develop their magenta tutu and a sense of excitement to see their progression I couldn't get enough of them!
Gardening on the Rooftop... of the Education Center
Gardening on the Rooftop... of the Education Center
Our education center has a living roof with sedum, sempervivum, dianthus, grass, gaillardia, flax. Spent time modifying clover-dominated squares and reintroducing sedum and native seeds.
Container Designs
Container Designs
Got the opportunity to add some annual flair to pots around the garden (yes, this is perennial summer) the garden Director noted these were an elegant and tasteful design to add to the children's' garden as well as the rooftop patio that's rented out for events. Rooftop pots are a moisture challenge as canopy runoff drains directly into these pots making them more saturated than not, but haven't watered once all summer so thankful for the environmental assistance.
Pots around Childrens' Garden have some plants donated from Gulley's and Costco's InColor flower program after they faded in the warehouse.
Tufa Garden
Tufa Garden
Creating a garden of porous, sedimentary limestone was the promise of the entire summer season. We had 5 pallets with different sized boulders and by the final stretch of fall we were able to install them into a pocket of the garden! Tufa is well suited for alpine plantings for its well draining ability and allowing roots in the well draining crevice structure. We had to brainstorm how it'll be irrigated, mapped out existing waterlines and wires, as well as restructure some plants and steps to create this one of a kind pocket. Looking forward to planting next spring! So much potential with sowing in the stone and trying to establish different alpine plants!
Greenhouse Production
Greenhouse Production
In the final months of my experience, I applied my greenhouse production skills to organize, prepare, and initiate seed stratification for the upcoming season. On frosty mornings, I carefully sowed trays with a diverse range of species, including Rhodiola integrifolia, Verbascum wiedemanii, Besseya whyominensis, Castilleja, and several Penstemon varieties (davidsonii, strictus, glaber). Other notable species included Dianthus caucasicus, Heuchera cylindrica, Gentiana asclepiadea, and Polemonium confertum, among others. In total, I prepared around 50 varieties, meticulously planted in seed trays as well as 2" and 4" square pots, setting the stage for the garden’s next season of growth. In preparation, we stratified trays outside the greenhouse and in a small mini-fridge to monitor temperature more closely.
Blooms of the Week!
Blooms of the Week!
Part of the horticulture internship responsibility is sharing what is in bloom each week via some vases in our education center as well as on the Instagram. Below enjoy some Floral Friday photos taken by yours truly!
Acantholimon trojanum Prickly Thrift
Anchusa capensis
Cape Forget-Me-Not
Allium 'Millenium'
Aquilegia sp
Asclepias tuberosa
Orange Milkweed
Aster 'Dwarf Alert'
Buddleja hybrid
Butterfly bush
Centaurea macrocephala
Giant Knapweed
Castilleja ssp.
Indian Paintbrush
Chamerion angustifolium
Fireweed
Colchicum 'Waterlily'
Autumn Crocus
Crocus specious
Cotyledon orbiculata
Cephalaria gigantea
Gigantic Pincushion flower
Cyclamen alpinum
Cyclamen purpurascens
Dianthus crinitus
Hairy Carnation
Dictamnus albus
Gas Plant
Echinacea paradoxa Ozark coneflower
Echinops ritro
Globe Thistle
Gentiana septemfida
Crested Gentian
Gentiana farreri
Helenium 'Mardi Gras'
Sneezeweed
Lentopodium nivale Edelweiss
Liatris spicata 'Alba'
White Blazing Star
Michauzia campanuloides
Nigella damascena
Oenothera flava
Evening Primrose
Mirabilis multiflora
Colorado four-o'clock
Monarda didyma
Scarlet Bee Balm
Penstemon richardsonii
Richard's Penstemon
Penstemon richardsonii var dentatus
Cutleaf Beardtongue
Polmonium sp
jacobs ladder
Sagina subulata
Telesonix jamesii
Verbascum chaixii album Nettle-leaved mullein
Verbascum sp
Veronica stelleri
Zauschneria garrettii 'Orange Carpet'
Hummingbird's trumpet
Zauschneria garrettii x 'First Lady Blush'
(Let's get this selected and on the market!)
Conservation Team Hike - Hoosier Pass
Conservation Team Hike - Hoosier Pass
Mertensia tweedyi
alpine bluebell
Phacelia sericea
silky phacelia
Ipomopsis globularis
hoosier pass ipomopsis
Tetraneuris acaulis
stemless hymenoxys
Rhodiola integrifolia
kings crown
Cirsium funkiae
funky thistle
Pedicularis groenlandica
elephants head
Eriogonum umbelatum
buckwheat
More Than Gardening
More Than Gardening
Working here is about so much more than tending to the plants. Most days, I head in excited to be out in the gardens, but with a small and dedicated crew, we take on just about everything. Setting up chairs, tables, and testing microphones for events? Done. Leading group tours, welcoming visitors to the education center, or rolling out a shade tarp? Absolutely. Our librarian who reads story time was double booked? Well, I'm a librarian's son! Even shuffling the gift shop across the village when needed—whatever the task, we’re ready to jump in and get it done. It’s this all-hands-on-deck spirit that makes each day unique and fulfilling. Once my season ended I even got the privilege to return and teach a wreath workshop! We had planned amounts of boughs to purchase and scheduled the event, I foraged some dry materials from the BF Gardens and landscapes I worked on in the Front Range, then a November day I helped set up (after assisting in hanging holiday lights), and instructed a class of 8 on how to make wreaths.
My obsession with Hollyhocks
My obsession with Hollyhocks
For years I have always been enthralled with hollyhocks, from my parents' slate path, grandparents farmhouse, and many gardens. It's been a mission to find, track and select particular cultivars so I can grow out and trial different genetics and compositions to create wonderful mixes. Particular fascination is doubled flowers as well as a more webbed 'finger-like' leaf. Here's just a select few from my summer around Betty Ford.
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