Betty Ford Alpine Garden
Vail, Colorado, is known for its downhill skiing, but summers at the Betty Ford Alpine Garden prove that gardening here is not an uphill battle. Because the Fords spend a lot of time in the Vail Valley, the garden is named after the former First Lady. Flowers bloom in giddily bright profusion--scarlet flowers grow next to purple ice plants and native white columbines. Steep waterfalls and rocky outcroppings reflect the area's rugged beauty. Boulders that seem such an authentic part of the landscape were actually moved from elsewhere in Colorado--carefully numbered and put back into the same arrangement. Abounding in the garden are bristlecone pines (Pinus aristata ); these stately trees are estimated to live 4,000 years or more but never seem to show their age. A dwarf conifer collection is one of this garden's best-kept secrets. Two new additions to the collection are Pinus aristata 'Betty Ford' and Pinus aristata 'Gerald Ford.'
Chateau Garden
Sometimes neighbors build walls to keep each other out, but the walls at the Chateau Garden are the result of neighborhood unity. Residents of this Vail Valley neighborhood purchased land in back of their houses that was slated for further development, then turned the area back to nature. Dry-stacked walls, built by a local artisan, come together to form raised flowerbeds for coral bells and goblin flowers.
Rainey Garden
Anne Rainey's garden captures a sense of western adventure. Inspired by the Eagle River that flows through the Vail Valley below her home, Rainey created a smaller version on her own property. The manmade stream creates a natural setting for plants that call Colorado home. Hidden benches and secluded places afford vantage points from which to reflect on the garden's tamed and untamed beauty. Stone bridges provide safe passage across her backyard stream and lead to hidden trails. This lush wilderness--created in only two years--was fashioned out of native trees and plenty of mail-order plants. Most have adopted with gusto to the high altitude and the chilly Colorado nights.
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