Colorado Springs -- Young Garden, The

The Young Garden is located in the Rocky Mountain Foothills of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Established in 1970, the 3-acre property features native woodlands, alpine specimens, and a naturalized fish pond. The gardens and courtyard area that surround the house are alive with bees, birds, butterflies and wildlife and are a testament to the owner's commitment to a resilient, ecologically vibrant garden. In order to transform the front of the property as seen from the street, the land was totally recontoured and many large boulders were added. The area was further enhanced with grasses and perennials to add drifts of color and texture to the existing native pine, gamble oak and shrubs. The north facing location combined with the variety of wildlife passing through this area created a challenge for any new plants or shrubs.  Large spade-dug native ponderosa and pinon pine trees were planted early on.  A "sunken" garden was established to be seen out of a multi-windowed wall of the sun-room.  Small foot paths were developed to wind through dense gamble oak trees to add a bit of mystery to the short traverse between a close-in garden and a large native upper meadow.  The sloping ground portion of the courtyard – back patio area was terraced with native fieldstone, which at one point, expands into a naturalized fish-pond holding more than 500 gallons of water. The water is freshened by a small continuously running waterfall and is an attraction to a variety of local wildlife. Trough gardens provide a place to display small alpine specimens that would be lost in a normal garden setting.  The Contemporary style home, constructed in 1970, was designed by architect John James Wallace for William and Nancy Schlosser. Nancy served as a Garden Club of America Director from 1982-1984. Persons associated with the garden's design: Gernot Heinrichsdorff (landscape architect, 1970).