Mountain Perennial Garden
Part 1

9. Perennial Borders
The mixed perennial borders that comprise the majority of the Mountain Perennial Garden contain more than 1,000 varieties of both traditional and unusual perennials, trees and shrubs demonstrating the diversity of plant material that grows in the this mountain landscape. With an increasing focus on species originating from mountain regions around the world, this garden has something interesting and beautiful to see throughout the season. Included in the Perennial Borders are two mounded island beds, a long raised border and a xeriscape garden border. These beds were among the first to be constructed and planted at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.

The Perennial Borders consist of numerous perennials, biennials, flowering bulbs, ornamental grasses, flowering deciduous shrubs and trees and dwarf evergreen trees. Some perennials are known for their large long-blooming flowers (Gaillardia aristata), others for their fragrance (Lilium citronella) or architectural merits (Iris sibirica). Some lend terrific fall color (Peonia spp.) or interesting texture (Tanacetum coccineum). Many biennials such as Verbascum bombyciferum are best used for their architectural form and as textural contrast. Flowering bulbs like striped squill, Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica, offer very early spring blooms while others such as fall crocus, Colchicum sp., bloom into late autumn. Ornamental grasses like blue oat grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens, are gaining popularity in mixed perennial borders because of their dramatic forms, unique flowers and seed heads and vibrant fall colors. They create great accents and structure in the garden throughout the year. There is also great value in flowering deciduous shrubs in mixed borders. Purple-leaf sandcherry, Prunus cistena, is a shrub that offers beautiful fragrant white blooms early in the season, purple leaves throughout the season and year-round garden structure. Dwarf evergreen trees such as dwarf Balkan pine, Pinus cembra 'Nana', and Montgomery spruce, Picea pungens 'Montgomery' are clearly excellent mixed border plants in cold climates because they set off other plants very well with their tremendous year-round color, contrasting forms and relatively small size.

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10. Primula Garden
This small island garden displays a diverse array of Primula or "primrose" species. Primula is one the most widespread and variable of all alpine genera, occurring on nearly every continent and in most conceivable conditions. There are approximately 400 species inhabiting pondsides, screes and rock crevices. Being mainly mountain plants many are intolerant of long warm summers making them ideal candidates for our high elevation climate with cool summer nights. The genus was named from the Latin 'Prima' meaning first, since many primula are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring.

We grow approximately 50 different Primula in different garden settings from the small Primula garden to the West European Alps Garden and have the small native alpine primrose (Primula angustifolia) in our native collections. This popular genus has its own society with more information and a good seed exchange amongst its members, americanprimrosesoc.org. More detailed information can be found in 'The Genus Primula, in Cultivation and the Wild' by Joseph Halda (1992).

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More of the Mountain Perennial Garden