Sometimes the treasures closest to home are the ones we miss. One of our Arizona treasures is La Posada Resort in Winslow, AZ. Built in 1929 it is described as “the last great railroad hotel.” It is Mary Coulter’s architectural masterpiece. She designed 21 projects for Fred Harvey. “Mary Coulter was hired by the Fred Harvey Company in 1903 to design fine hotels, restaurants, and gift shops along the Santa Fe Railway. She became America’s most influential woman designer. . . . This was her favorite project, the only time she was allowed to design everything from the buildings (to the china, maid’s uniforms,) to the gardens.”(laposada.org) Her plan was to create an oasis in the high plateau of the Colorado River to greet the guests arriving by train. LaPosada opened in 1930 and in a turn of history’s fortunes, her garden plans were never fully realized.
Category: Southwest, US
Rio Grande Bio Park, Botanical Garden
Even on a 100 degree day this garden is a cool place to be. Only 15 years old, this 36-acre botanical garden was built in the site of a city park that had fallen into disrepair. As a result, mature cottonwood and elm trees provide shade all throughout the garden. The entry courtyard is spacious and decorative. As you enter the garden through beautiful, ornate bronze gates, the first space to catch your eye is the children’s fantasy garden with a castle tower and dragon. The dragon towers up above the trees with fabric wings and a spine planted with rounded boxwood. The castle tower floor is a sand pit ready for play. Walking through the castle courtyard, you find yourself in a land of giants. This garden grows huge carrots, radishes, and onions. The tools of the giants are scattered about. There is a rake, trowel, watering can, and flower pots, all fit for the giant. A motion activated bee begins buzzing overhead as you enter the potting area. You walk into the interior of a monstrous pumpkin with the seeds and stringy center dangling overhead. The tree trunks open up for play, you may slide down to another level. This imaginative garden space is a bit of magic for all ages.
Botanical Garden, Albuquerque
Even on a 100 degree day this garden is a cool place to be. Only 15 years old this 36 acre botanical garden was built in the site of a city park which had fallen into disrepair. As a result mature cottonwood and elm trees provide shade all throughout the garden. The entry courtyard is spacious and decorative. You enter the garden through beautifully ornate bronze gates.
AZ Gardening
Back in my own little garden I have been working steadily to prepare for the intense heat of summer. One lucky bit of gardening is sharing geraniums with my friend Josephine. She and husband Steve have a wonderful mountain retreat north of Happy Jack, AZ. This is the second year that I have loaded up a truck full of my favorite peppermint twist geraniums and moved them up to her high altitude garden. Fortunately deer aren’t particularly fond of this plant and Josephine enjoys my geraniums for several months. The plants appreciate the cooler temperatures. In October I bring them back to the low desert for another growing season. This trip, after we delivered the plants we continued on to Winslow to spend a night at the La Posada resort and gardens.
Flagstaff Arboretum
Today it was to be 111 degrees in Phoenix. We hoped it would be cooler in Flagstaff. It was 90.
The arboretum was dry, the plants are struggling to thrive. Not yet recovered from winter some have a look of dry frosted leaves. Aspen trees have their fresh green leaves rattling in the breeze. Chimpmunks and song birds scamper about. If the rain comes the penstemon garden and the wildflowers will be beautiful in another month. Right now the lake is low, the paths are dusty and I sit on the bench and wonder what will we do if the rain doesn’t come?
Late in the day
We arrived late to the garden, about 3 p.m. I was anxious to arrive earlier but our day was busy and we couldn’t get there any sooner. Yet when I realized the garden was open until 8 p.m. I suddenly relaxed. Late in the day is a great time in a garden. The visitors are fewer, there are quite spots to sit and relax. Then to my great delight, a roadrunner sauntered out and began walking across the sidewalk. The wildlife likes late in the day as well.
Desert Botanical Luminaria
We wandered about the Desert Botanical garden last night. We bundled up and enjoyed the cool night for several hours. It had been a few years since we went to the Luminaria, our last time was in the rain and the chill remained keeping us away for a few years. It was a wonderful night this visit. Plus the garden has expanded and improved the venue. More lights on trees in addition to the luminaria. The musical groups have a larger staging area with chairs for listeners to stay awhile and enjoy the very talented groups that are playing.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Fall foliage is such a spectacular show of color creating a magical glow of light under the trees. The honey locust trees are the color of gold, the Chinese Pistachio leaves turn red. The cottonwoods were just beginning to change color. The sky a bright blue with patches of white puffy clouds.
A perfect temperature in the mid sixties provide great weather for wandering through the garden. The contrast in colors from an April visit to November is fun to experience. The spring blooms of aloes and wildflowers that grow at knee level are gone. The color now is up in the air. The leaves command the attention. Sitting under the Pistachio trees enjoying the changing light as the sun moves in out of the clouds. The leaves in shades of light green, yellow green, gold, peach, orange and red all backed by the bright blue sky make a momentary masterpiece not to be captured but only to be enjoyed at this moment.
Barbara’s Garden
Public gardens are a wonderful place to visit but now and then you have the opportunity to see a beautiful private garden.
Barbara invited me out to see her hollyhocks in full glory. Beautiful shades of pink and white were indeed glorious and scattered around her acre of Eden in the East Valley. A transplanted “Alabama Rose” Barbara has transplanted herself and her favorite plants from her childhood home.
Southwest Morning Wake-up Call
I am a happy mockingbird,
mockingbird, mockingbird.
My song is strong at 3 am,
so strong, so strong.
Why are you in your bed?
your bed, your bed.