Boulder Resident’s Expansive Rock Garden Inspires

August 26, 2026 – Anne Smith of Boulder, Colorado, transformed her front yard into a stunning 30-year-old rock garden, a popular trend across the state at the time. The garden features mounded areas, tumbling boulders, dwarf conifers, alpine plants, yuccas, and perennials, creating a textured and colorful landscape.

A Decade-Old Design

Smith initially wasn’t entirely sure about the rock garden concept, but she began building it at her previous home. She personally oversaw the installation of two dump trucks of soil, 30 tons of sandstone and granite, and the placement of the largest boulders. Her husband, Rolando, later contributed smaller rocks.

Notable Plants and Features

The garden includes ‘Saint Mary’s Broom’ creeping blue spruce, Stork’s bill (Erodium), Santolina ‘Lemon Fizz,’ red penstemon, lamb’s ears, gaura, and lavender. Three hypertufa troughs are filled with a variety of alpines, sempervivums, sedums, and dwarf conifers, noting that the plantings “evolve with time since mortality is considerable.”

Architectural Details

The garden incorporates stone stairs leading to the front door, with a choice of a chunky-stone climb or a shallow traverse. An airy wrought-iron handrail adds to the aesthetic. A bowl planter on a flat rock provides a focal point.

Side Yard Transition

In the side yard, Smith cultivates potted tropicals and other water-loving plants like daylilies and clematis, creating a transitional space between her waterwise gardens. Succulents are also grouped together.