Rock Gardening in the Rockies

Rock gardens offer many benefits.  They can be tailored to any situation, whether it is sunny and dry, moist and shady, high elevation, rocky soil, or even a balcony in the city. Many rock plants are very forgiving and the wide palate of small plants used in rock gardens means that one can find plants that will do well in any situation.

Few styles of gardening offer as much year around interest in a confined area as rock gardening.  The combination of rocks and plants can create a vignette that is pleasing 365 days a year whether it is a containerized rock garden on a balcony or an acre rock garden in a public garden.  Rock garden plants tend to be small, often evergreen, and have interesting forms making appeal throughout the year.  The combination of rocks and the change of elevation present in many rock gardens (in the form of raised mounds of soil called berms) provides a garden that is pleasing and interesting covered in snow or filled with colorful flowers and texture in the spring, summer and autumn.

Colorado is a natural place for rock gardens due to our favorable climate and the natural inspiration of our western landscapes.  Denver is home to the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society.  The local chapter offers plants sales, monthly meeting and a newsletter devoted to the art of rock garden

If you’re interested in learning more about creating your own rock garden (or just appreciating the gardens here in town), join Mike as he teaches Rock Gardening in the Rockies on Wednesday, Nov. 2 and 9 at the Gardens.  Learn the basics of rock gardening, the history and how to design & find the materials to build a rock garden of your very own.  Register online or call 720-865-3580.

Guest Blogger: Mike Kintgen
Mike is a Colorado native with a degree in horticulture from Colorado State University.  He has worked at Chicago Botanic Gardens, Rhododendron Species Foundation and has been involved with Denver Botanic Gardens since he was 12 years old.  Mike is currently a senior horticulturalist at the Gardens.  Rock Gardening has been a special interest of his for 20 years and he is the current president of the local rock garden society.