Bullhook Blossoms Garden Club featured yard

By Bullhooks Blossoms Garden Club

Photos courtesy Bullhook Blossoms Garden Club

Cal Simmons and Carolyn Anderson's home and garden, at 37684 Tailwater Road, overlook Fresno Lake, the Milk River, the Badlands, and, to the south, the Bear Paw Mountains.

The home has a low profile and is barely noticeable to those driving by, but the hidden eco environment that has been created is an outstanding example of Xeriscaping for our harsh northern climate. Water for plants is scarce. Only 6,500 gallons of rain runoff from the roof can be collected into storage tanks. Carolyn says it is not as much as you would think. Once the rain water is used up, they have to haul water in for plants.

The upper level of the home is planted with just enough trees and shrubs - Burr oak, Scotch pine, Russian olives, buffaloberries - to shelter the home from wind, but still leave the beautiful views.

The lower level of the home walks out into a lovely garden that takes little water. The area was excavated to make a walk-out area for a daylight basement. Rocks were then placed back into the area to hold soil and moisture. The area is also accessible via a lovely outdoor rock stair case from the ground level.

Flowers, shrubs and trees have been selected for their hardiness, as well as color. They provide food for the many birds that inhabit the area. Carolyn has a system of soaker hoses throughout the gardens, but waters plants only as needed. She groups plants together according to their watering needs and uses lots of mulch to help retain the moisture.

Sedum, soapwort and creeping red thyme are used throughout the garden paths. Catmint, yarrow, prairie coneflower, May night salvia provide color throughout the summer months. The leadplant with its tall, silvery, fern-like foliage does not need watering.

Shrubs and trees give height and shade. She has planted junipers for ground cover and structure along the sloping sides of the area. Three-leaf sumac and gro-low sumac are both very tough and drought resistant. Chokecherry bushes provide color and texture, as well as food for the birds. The radiant crabapple is another favorite for its beautiful pink flowers in the spring and small fruit that stays on the tree. The birds love to eat the fruit during the winter. The rose tree of China is a very small tree that blooms in the early spring.

Due to the shortage of water, there are no sweeping green lawns. Grasses are selected for their drought tolerance. Carolyn likes blue gamma and buffalo grass. They grow low and can stand the heat. She can buy this seed locally at Wild Horse Seeds.

Carolyn's gardens are a work in progress. It is easy to see her love of gardening, she enjoys trying new plants, or just moving the ones she has around to find just the right spot for them to thrive. These gardens are an inspiration to all those looking to conserve water and create a beautiful environment.