ALPINE — For the past 14 years, gardeners have been able to go behind the scenes and see into some wonderful backyard landscapes during the Hidden Garden Tour, sponsored by the Intermountain Healthcare Charities.
This year holds the same promise.
One featured garden this year is the handiwork of Nancy Young, a knowledgeable and dedicated gardener and a Utah State University Extension Service advanced master gardener.
Her unique garden in Alpine borders National Forest property. It features outstanding examples of native and adapted plants, rock retaining walls and pathways and some stunning groundcover plantings.
She arrived at her design through several criteria. One of the most important was that she did not want a lawn, because she has so many other things she likes to do.
"I did not want to be a slave to a lawn. I see people that are always mowing their lawns, or I see lawns that are just full of weeds. I just did not want to do that."
Another motivation was the covenants of the development.
"We left in as many of the native oaks as possible because we are supposed to preserve at least 30 percent to 40 percent of the natural landscapes when we build," she said.
Her third design criterion is also very practical. "We planted many native plants to fulfill natural landscape requirement, but they are also very important because of the grazing deer. They do not eat them — or at least when they eat them they grow back.
Many of the evergreens came into her landscape because the rock and deciduous oaks lacked seasonal interest.
"My landscape was very depressing in the winter. I first planted three blue spruces to give some winter color and then added other plants here and there to make it more attractive. These include red twig dogwood and other colorful plants."
Perhaps the most striking planting is her wonderful collection of groundcovers. With no lawn, most of the level areas are landscaped with stonework, and many of the pockets in the retaining walls are natural areas for using these plants.
"Groundcovers are easy to care for," Young said. "Once they are established, they keep the weeds out. I like the variety, I like the colors and I like the textures!
"The foot traffic walking over them usually keeps them from getting too large. If they start to get out of control, I take the string trimmer and cut them down every four or five years. Other than that, I do not have to do anything to them."
One of her favorites is Scotch moss. It has a bright lime-green color and is about as close as you can get to a lawn look without having to mow it. Its flowing texture fills in among her beautiful sandstone pathway and patios.
One that caught my eye was the brightly colored "Delosperma," or hardy ice plant. Its luminous purple blossoms are stunning. Other types have yellow-, pink- or coral-colored flowers.
Two other groundcovers — woolly thyme and veronica — are covered with blossoms right now. They seem equally happy filling in between the rocks or cascading over retaining walls or steps. The woolly thyme has lavender flowers and the veronica is awash in bright blue blossoms.
Others that are flowering in Young's landscape right now include sweet woodruff and thrift, which are covered with white flowers; ajuga, with its short violet or blue flower stalks; and Potentilla, which is covered with yellow flowers.
There are many others that might not be flowering now but are still attractive. These include lamium, lambs ear, Oregon grape, ivy blue fescue grass and at least six different sedums.
All in all this is a stunning garden with a peaceful natural look and feel.
Young likes it that way. "I don't need hummingbird and butterfly feeders because they come naturally to the plants. Likewise my goldfish in the pond take care of themselves and do not need special feeding."
Her garden is more than just a place for plants "I have found my garden to be very therapeutic. It is my place of comfort, of peace, of refuge and of beauty. All of the things that I needed in my life, I could find in my garden."
If you go …
What:Hidden Garden Benefit Tour
Where: 14 private gardens from Alpine to Orem
When: June 12, noon-8 p.m.; June 13, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
How much: $13
Phone: 801-357-7600
Web: www.hiddengarden.org
Larry A. Sagers is a horticulture specialist for the Utah State University Extension Service at Thanksgiving Point.