Gardenwerks Naturalized Meadow in Colorado Gulch

Plants in Actions Series

If you aren’t already familiar, Gardenwerks is a powerhouse garden center, landscaping, and community hub in Helena, MT. Operated by a small team of plant professionals, Gardenwerks has been one of our primary retail centers since Great Bear began expanding our offerings to include retail and landscape materials. 

The landscape design team is led by Caroline Wallace, who strives to take her degree in Landscape Architecture and certification in permaculture design and create eye-catching, resource-conscience landscapes at businesses and residences across the Helena area.

Caroline shared a project that began in 2019 in Colorado Gulch outside of Helena. This residential landscaping project aimed to create a naturalized meadow while maintaining a water-wise design as irrigation proved to be the biggest hurdle of the design. 

Now that the irrigation woes have been overcome, Caroline reports that the meadow is finally maturing into what they envisioned: a native plant-dominant landscape that blends seamlessly into the natural surroundings.

Over 30 different species were included in the design, half of which were grown by Great Bear Native Plants. From Sticky Geranium to Palmer’s and Pineleaf Penstemons, the naturalized meadow is dotted with pops of color and the buzzing of native pollinators.

Caroline reports that the Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) and Sheep & Idaho Fescues (Festuca ovina & idahoensis) have had the most success in the landscape.

The star of the meadow design for Caroline is the Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) because of its unique texture and its natural look along the dry creek bed, shaded by aspen trees.

Species Highlights:

• Narrowleaf Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)

• Rocky Mountain Columbine (Aquilegia coerulea)

• Blue Grama (Boutleoua gracilis)

• Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)

• Silvery Lupine (Lupinus argenteus)