Create a yard; grow a lifestyle

By Gary Raham
Wellington Correspondent

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Rae Todd grew up in Greeley, but she brought a little bit of Utah with her when she moved to Wellington two years ago: a sensibility for environmentally responsible gardening that looks beautiful and nurtures peace of mind.

Todd's parents now live in southern Utah near St. George, a place that sees less water than Colorado and suffers summer temperatures that wither some of the toughest grass. She admired the way her folks and their neighbors had fashioned concrete and mulch in artful ways to support attractive, if water-stingy plants. When her grass yellowed from attacks of drought, fungus and worms, she decided to import some of the Utah "look" and creatively adapt it to her land and Colorado's climate.

At first, Todd's neighbors didn't know quite what was happening when trucks from Windsor's Elite Edging showed up and began digging trenches and pouring cement curbing. Was she building a pond or swimming pool? And what would she do with mounds of fine-ground cedar mulch (after they had been thoroughly explored by children and curious dogs)?

But Todd had a plan. "I wanted to create color, shape, and watch things grow," she said, surrounded by a ring binder stuffed with articles, brochures and empty seed packages. And she did.

She consulted experts, like those at Colorado State University Extension, to find the best way to eliminate large areas of grass and replace them with mulch. (Ten layers of newspaper beneath the mulch do the trick.) She located underground sewer lines and utilities and took the lay of the land. She pored over issues of Gardening How-To and Garden Gate for inspiration. She made lists of plants by color, water requirements, height at maturity, season for flowering, and simply because they looked good, then invaded local nurseries to see what they carried and what they had to say.

Today, a lush island of bluegrass/ryegrass (which can be mowed in 20 minutes) sits among stands of daylilies, iris, purple and parrot tulips, shasta daisies, wood spurge and a host of other plants arranged by height and seasonal display. Japanese blood grass will burn with reds during the fall and Iberis "October glory" plants will burst with white flowers. Honeysuckle climbs two trellises along the path to the door and precast sandstone slabs provide trails for maintenance and admiration. Lava rock will provide planting sites for various annuals that can be changed for spot color from year-to-year. All her chosen plants have flourished without an underground sprinkling system or excessive water use.

Todd had to think about how much time she's spent on the project: "Well, let's see. Maybe a week to put the mulch in, two days cleaning up from the cement work. It's hard to say about the planting - maybe a week total. It almost takes more time to pick them out at the nursery."

She's not counting the hours, however, because they provide her with lots of relaxation and enjoyment. "The back yard's next," she says, pointing out the window as her eyes gleam with future plans.

Anyone can enjoy the kaleidoscopic living display by driving by Todd's home on Hamilton. She's willing to share her hard-won knowledge with other dedicated gardeners at 568-3209. Fellow enthusiasts should call evenings, but still might have to leave a message. There's a good chance she'll be outside working in the garden.