Oct. 25, 2024

New Garden Demonstrations Provide Inspiration

As Northern Water recently completed its campus development project at its Berthoud headquarters, expansion is also taking place in the Conservation Gardens. The Water Efficiency team recently added five new demonstrations to the gardens to inspire both commercial and residential garden design. To top it off and spread the important message about efficiency, all of the plants used in the new demonstrations are low-water and native to this region.  


Median Demonstration  

Designed to imitate a neighborhood median, this demonstration boasts plant species that thrive in hot, exposed areas. The plants used have a higher tolerance to salt than most common garden plants. A cobble boarder prevents squeegee or pea gravel from escaping onto paths or roadways.  

Shaded Street Strips  

While the gardens include demonstrations for street strips, which are the narrow areas between the sidewalk and the road), there were no demonstrations showcasing shade tolerant plants. Many older neighborhoods have beautiful shade trees and finding plants that perform well in these shady conditions can be challenging. The new shaded street strip demonstration is designed to showcase plants that will perform well in the shade while providing interest and color throughout the seasons.  

Sloped Demonstration

This new space showcases plants that can retain soil in areas with significant grade change. Plants manage slopes in two ways, by either spreading and growing low to the ground or by having deep and fibrous root systems. These characteristics help keep soil intact, preventing erosion. Many native plants are great choices for retaining slopes as they often develop the deep fibrous roots needed to survive in Colorado’s dry climate.  

Low-Maintenance Demonstration  

This is the perfect space designed for those who do not have the time to keep up with an elaborate garden. All it requires is a spring clean-up. Plants in this demonstration have a long bloom season or retain interest throughout the year. Plants are repeated often in the design to create a clean formal appearance, while balancing the plant choice with several Colorado natives to provide the sense of place. This garden offers something to admire in every season.  

Prairie Ecosystem Demonstration  

This garden provides visitors the chance to see and learn about plants that are native to the local ecoregions. Designed to be a dynamic system with plants that may reseed and move around, it boasts native fruiting shrubs to attract birds and provides plenty of nectar to native bees and butterflies. A depression in the center of this demonstration allows water to settle and support plants that may prefer more moisture. Not only do native plants support biodiversity, they also have deep root systems that sequester large amounts of carbon below ground.  

The Conservation Gardens are open to the public year-round from sunrise to sunset daily. The new demonstrations offer both inspiration and a visible path to landscape transitions.