Larry and Mary Scripter grew up in prairie country, Larry on a farm in Kansas and Mary in the Black Hills of South Dakota, surrounded by the Great Plains. So it’s not surprising that they’re drawn to grassy meadow gardens and have created one at their home in Niwot, Colorado.

Sitting on their shady back porch, your eye is drawn to the sunny meadow, which segues nicely into a grassy field. Beyond distant neighboring houses, the blue line of the Rocky Mountains, with snow capping the highest peaks, zigzags against the dramatic Colorado sky. It’s a remarkable tableau that captivated bloggers like Laura of Colorado Backyard Gardener on the Denver Garden Bloggers Fling tour (June 2019).

The Scripters hired designer, plantswoman, and author Lauren Springer Ogden of Fort Collins to design the meadow, as well as a tree-and-shrub screen for privacy and bird habitat.

They laid out Ogden’s matrix design in the spring of 2012 and planted it all themselves: 1,800 pots of wildflowers, perennials, shrubs, and grasses, with nearly 100 different species creating impressive diversity.

That fall they dug in 1,500 bulbs: daffodils, camassias, gladiolus, alliums, and more.

Then Larry spread 25 tons of pea gravel around every baby plant, hauling it around via wheelbarrow and shovel, to help suppress weeds and retain moisture.

‘Lauren’s Grape’ poppy, a rich purple cultivar developed by the designer. Fling sponsor Botanical Interests gave each blogger a seed packet of ‘Lauren’s Grape’ to take home for their own garden.

Mary and Larry appreciate that their meadow sustains pollinating insects, birds, and other beneficial wildlife. “We feed the neighbors’ bees as well as hundreds of birds year-round,” Mary says. A work-of-art birdbath is a meadow focal point as well as a water source for thirsty birds and bees.

Red poppy

Poppy seedheads are eye-catching once the petals drop.

Despite a natural appearance, a meadow garden is not low maintenance. Mary confesses that theirs requires constant attention due to weeds, “varmints,” and weather issues. “But it is in the ‘roots’ of our upbringing, and we are grateful to live here,” she says.

A weathered branch makes a natural garden accent.

Variegated iris glows alongside tufts of grasses.

At the corner of the house, trees and rocks take over and the meadow ends.

A boulder dwarfs a sculptural head, backed by a blue-green fringe of drought-tolerant Ephedra equisetina.

Wide steps lead up to the generously proportioned back porch, perfect for sitting and admiring the meadow and mountains.

Bloggers Laura of Wills Family Acres (Texas), Denise of A Growing Obsession (California), and Stefanie of See Jane Dig (Michigan) enjoy the shady overlook.

A stunning view made even more beautiful by dark storm clouds in the distance.

I love the natural effect of the meadow garden and its gentle interaction with the mountain view this home enjoys.

Pots on the porch bring the garden a little closer.

The porch decor reminds you that you’re in the American West, if the mountains do not.

Columbine bouquet

Around the other side of the house, I felt as if I was being watched.

The “eye” markings on aspen trunks never fail to fascinate me. Under their fluttering canopy, a shade garden thrives.

Faux bois birdbath with seashells

Colorado’s pioneer past is often explicitly alluded to in its gardens. This was the second buckboard wagon we’d seen on tour.

Near the front of the house, an expanse of gravel and twisted-trunk trees reminded me of home — a simple and naturalistic patio space.

The trees wore dangling earrings.

This also reminded me of home: tiers of creamy yucca blossoms.

Colorado is much drier than Austin, with just 15 inches of annual precipitation compared to our 33. It’s interesting to see which plants we have in common despite differences in altitude and aridity.

Up next: An outdoor-living showpiece at designer Scott Deemer’s home. For a look back at Tatiana Maxwell’s rock-walled garden, click here.

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Digging Deeper

Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Stay tuned for more info!

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