|
GARDEN OF SUPERSTARS A walk through Bob Pennington's garden on Agua Fria Street, located just in front of his Agua Fria Nursery, is equal to attending a class on native plants, especially when Bob comes along to talk about them. In 1984 Bob made the decision that his front garden would be totally xeric. Consequently, he treats the plants in his front garden the same as if they were growing in the wild. They must survive the harsh environment like the true natives they are without any extra help. Once a new plant is established, it receives only "water that comes from the sky." If a plant doesn't survive, sometimes it will be moved and given another chance, but it will not get special treatment. Is there anything growing in this garden of "hard knocks?" Oh my yes! Not only is there a plethora of beautiful native plant specimens, they are thriving, thank you very much! A stunning
Datura located near the entrance is an apt introduction to an array of amazing plants one will see while visiting the garden. There are excellent specimens of native plants including a
Desert peach. a 3 to 6 foot deciduous shrub with showy, rose-like blossoms that loves a dry, arid climate. A beautiful
Golden cholla and several species of Agave and Yucca are guaranteed to grab your attention. This past summer, one of the Yuccas produced a spectacular spike of flowers that climbed skyward for at least 10 feet or more. The Havard agave and the smaller Artichoke agave are perfectly formed and are certainly two of the garden's superstars.
He claims that the only thing he regrets planting is the
Wild white onion because it tends to be a bit pushy, but with its delicate white flowers, it makes a nice looking "bully." Anyone who knows Bob also knows how much he likes penstemons. However, he said that the only penstemon that does well in his garden is the Penstemon linarioides.
As owner of Agua Fria Nursery and a respected authority on native plants, Bob uses this garden as a laboratory to help determine plants that will survive in New Mexico's challenging environment. He cultivates some of the plants by collecting seeds and/or other means of propagation. Leaving the plants to fend for themselves may sound harsh but Bob has proven that gardens can grow and thrive in our climate without fertilizers and irrigation when the right plants are chosen. Even more importantly, he shares this knowledge with the community in hopes that more and more people will plant these drought tolerant natives in their own gardens. This is no compromise because the plants are beautiful and meant to live and thrive in New Mexico's arid conditions. They deserve a chance in our gardens because they've earned it. Click here for Bob Pennington's list of Garden Superstars. Bob and Jeni Pennington established Agua Fria Nursery in 1975. Bob has been an avid supporter of Santa Fe Botanical Garden since its inception and is a past member of the SFBG Board of Directors, serving twice as president and also as vice president. He is active in the Native Plant Society as well as many other horticulture related groups.
Visit www.santafebotanicalgarden.org to learn more about how Santa Fe Botanical Garden celebrates, cultivates and preserves the rich botanical heritage and biodiversity of the region. |
The garden isn't huge but fascinating, holding a promise of discovering a different plant with each step. The two Mahonias (Fremont's barberry and Algerita) are quite showy even in late summer with their silvery, holly-like leaves. In the spring they produce an array of yellow flowers and red berries. 