Denver's desert mountain gardens: a cactus oasis
Last Saturday, I embarked on a fascinating journey through Denver's private gardens as part of the Garden Conservancy's Open Days program. My first stop was Desert Mountain Gardens in Littleton, a south Denver suburb.
The charming entrance
As I approached the property, a rustic split-rail fence along the side immediately set a welcoming, homey tone. Lavender clematis cascaded beautifully over one section of the fence, while its white counterpart bloomed with starry flowers the size of cocktail napkins.
A garden focused on foliage and hardiness
Stepping into the garden, I quickly realized this was a space designed more around foliage, form, and the ability to thrive in harsh conditions. Clearly, someone with a passion for cold-hardy cacti and succulents called this place home.
That someone turned out to be none other than Rod Haenni, president of the Cactus & Succulent Society of America. I was thrilled to discover he had even read my new book, which he kindly showed me. Rod proved to be an exemplary host, guiding me through the property and readily identifying any plant I pointed out, even if the names escaped me momentarily.
A texas native in a new climate
While many of the plants were familiar Texas-friendly varieties like prickly pear, cholla, and yucca, I recognized they would need to withstand the Zone 5b winters of Rod's Denver garden, a far cry from the Zone 9a (I planted for 8b) of my former Austin home.
Rod cleverly navigates two gardening worlds by escaping to Tucson each winter. The rest of the year, he tends to his Colorado garden, which is a testament to his adaptability and horticultural expertise.
A sculptural touch
A striking metal yucca sculpture from an Arizona artist added an artistic highlight near the back of the property. Behind it, a thriving colony of bluestem joint fir (Ephedra equisetina) sprawled out, showcasing its beauty but also its spreading tendencies.
Fremont's mahonia in bloom
A fragrant and stunning display of Fremont's mahonia (Mahonia fremontii) lined the street, reminding me of a memorable early May visit to Canyonlands National Park, where wild mahonia was in full bloom.
Prickly pear and cholla
I've always admired prickly pear for its unique Mickey Mouse pads, light-catching spines, and bright flowers and tunas. Rod shared my affinity for these plants, showcasing a beautifully accentuated container featuring one of these cacti. A closer look along the front walk revealed a stunning study in silver-green foliage.
While I've been too timid to grow cholla due to their barbed spines that won't let go, I can appreciate their jointed, slender form. Rod even had a pot of flowering petunias and salvia welcoming visitors near the front door.
Specimen trees and an ice plant surprise
Rod's garden features several impressive specimen trees, including a majestic blue spruce and a rarer gray pine (Pinus sabiniana). A striking peeling bark on a nearby birch tree caught my eye.
In the backyard, an eye-popping swath of ice plant surrounded a tiny crevice garden in a vibrant rose-colored Domenique Turnbull pot. This evocative arrangement reminded me of mountains and deserts.
Rod's garden also includes a substantial rock garden constructed of large gray boulders, where yucca, columbine, and creeping alpine plants thrive on top. Another crevice garden with narrower planting gaps is home to cold-hardy succulents.
Rod is a true collector, rattling off plant names I had never heard of. His global explorations to discover new plants are truly inspiring, even if collecting is not my own preference.
Thank you and next stop
I want to express my gratitude to Rod for opening his garden and sharing his vast plant knowledge with me. I look forward to exploring more gardens on this Open Days tour.