Part 2 - Go Wild

The natural flora of the Rockies provide a perfect foreground to the rugged peaks and valley vistas. It is remarkable how many times this natural growth is bulldozed when a new home is built. Clearing brush to make way for a yard may seem necessary, but consider - how much manicured yard do you actually need or want?

Particularly in winter its hard to imagine a cultivated yard that matches the beauty of the indigenous landscape of trees and shrubbery . Even the most avid gardener often fails miserably in creating this desirable'winter interest' in the garden. And Rockies gardener don't have to be told that winter in our region last a lot longer than the 90 odd days technically assigned to the season. The natural shrubbery like wild roses, Oregon Grape, Snowberries and native grasses create an ideal boundary for at least one corner of your private landscape. These hardy natives provide the closest thing to "carefree" and with occasional watering they will be more lush than you imagined! Birds and butterflies will appreciate your efforts too.

Your 'natural yard' needs little if any assistance to look good, but it may look even better with a little maintenance. Certainly clearing away any dead debris will improve the appearance. In some areas an early spring 'controlled burn' of dead grass can improve the environment for natural perennial plants. Always check with local authorities for rules and regulations. The occasional pruning of certain plants can be beneficial and it might even be appropriate to hack a scrubby or diseased bush right back to the ground. It is often astounding what one season of new growth will bring even in the shortest growing season.

If you haven't inherited a natural landscape why not try to establish one in at least a corner of your own yard . You might consider rescuing some of the natural flora from a proposed construction site in your neighborhood; a request would seldom be denied. Late fall or early spring would be the best times to try a mass transplanting like this, but even a summer transplant can be successful in the long term. In an undertaking like this don't assume every thing will take to its new home, because it won't. Expect die back and even some complete plant failure. Also expect and awkward stage of a year or two when starting from scratch. Once established it will survive the extremes of cold and heat, drought and downpour of our Rockies region better than any contrived garden ever could. And best of all this landscape will practically thrive on years of human neglect!

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