The Valley Garden

The Valley Garden is anchored by agricultural and domestic ornamental plants that have been tested through years of exposure to our high desert, semi-arid climate challenges. This garden has a central core area of drought- tolerant turf grass. Smaller sub-gardens surround this green space.

​

On its North end, the student-designed Stage anchors the Valley Garden. The stage and adjacent lawn provide a space for large gatherings such as weddings, reunions, outdoor classrooms or exercise classes. The accessible stage and lawn area can be reserved for private events.  Also on the North end is Cait’s Corner, created as a Montrose High School student project to represent Montrose as a kind community, remembering Cait Haynes. A large stone bench, butterfly bushes, Russian Hawthorne tree and mini perennial gardens accent the Corner. The North end also features the lilac shrub collection, a key part of the Sensory Garden and all things purple.

 

On the East side of the Garden is a “living fence” composed of tall evergreen and deciduous trees to reduce auditory and visual impacts to the garden, and demonstrate how natural elements can be used to accomplish this. Two Shavano Valley Plazas have been carved into the bermed slope using native sandstone walls to retain the soil. Patios with Memorial Pavers provide for quiet introspection. The Waves of Grass on the bermed slope features a number of PlantSelect species including Thin Man Golden Prairie Grass, Windwalker Bluestem, and Ruby Muhly.

 

Our Rose Garden is located on the West side of the Valley Garden. It is adorned with a bronze sculpture of ‘Joy’, a girl delicately holding a butterfly.  Ella Marolf is the sculptor. ‘Joy’ is on loan by Bob and Pat Brown via the PAX Public Art Experience.