Northern Water's public gardens rooted in xeriscape design

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

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The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District is, indeed, interested in water. Most northern Colorado residents know of the district because of its work in creating additional water storage, such as the proposed Glade Reservoir northwest of Fort Collins.

However, Northern Water is also a long-time proponent of water conservation in the urban landscape. With a goal of passing along practical, water-saving ideas for landscapes, the district invites the public to visit its Conservation Gardens. The gardens are located on a 2.5-acre site behind the district headquarters at 220 Water Ave. in Berthoud.

"Homeowners can take the principles and aesthetics of the Conservation Gardens and apply them to their own homes," noted Jill Boyd of NCWCD. Visitors to the Conservation Gardens have been surprised and pleased that such a resource is available to them, she said.

The district had a modest demonstration garden at its old location in Loveland, but it's been greatly expanded at the new headquarters. It's worth the short drive to see fine examples of xeriscape gardening, plus much more.

The gardens' design was inspired by traditional European gardens, employing geometric design, symmetry and repetition of elements such as the shape of the miniature gardens in the Xeriscape Plaza.

The gardens boast more than 700 plants representing more than 200 different species. There are also 17 different types of rock and mulch. The gardens are irrigated with untreated water from a pond at the site.

Besides being a lovely place to visit, the Conservation Gardens offer a place to learn gardening techniques suited to Colorado's climate. The site is considered a technology transfer station, the only one of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region. Technology on display includes different types of watering systems that are being tested by Northern Water.

Also of interest at the Conservation Gardens are turf grass plots, showing a variety of grasses that use much less water than bluegrass. In addition to more than 60 varieties of turf grasses, the plots include 20 grasses that are native to Colorado.

Next to the Conservation Gardens are agricultural plots that demonstrate farming methods using water conservation.

As an added treat, Northern Water has built an interpretative model of the Colorado-Big Thompson project, the system that brings water from the West Slope over to reservoirs such as Horsetooth and Carter Lake on the Front Range. It's a walk-through model, showing how water moves through tunnels, ditches and rivers to farms and cities along the northern Front Range.

Berthoud's weather station is also located in the Conservation Gardens.

Plans for the Conservation Gardens began shortly after the district moved to Berthoud in 2003. Fully operational since 2006, the gardens are overseen by Ron Boyd, the district's landscape water management and conservation specialist.

The Conservation Gardens are open to the public at no cost. Guided tours are offered each Tuesday from May through September between 2 and 4 p.m. At other times, including evenings and weekends, people may take self-guided tours or the cell phone audio tour. For more information, call Boyd at 622-2248.

This is the first article in a series of Gardens on the Go. In upcoming months, the North Forty News will give readers a glimpse of gardens they can visit in neighboring communities, within a short drive from home. Readers who would like to suggest locations may call the editor at 221-0213.