I got the jump on fall by spending two weeks in Denver in late September/early October. And an excellent decision it was, too, with aspens yellow as butter in the mountains and gardens sparkling with flowering grasses. Case in point: plantswoman Lauren Springer’s personal garden on the outskirts of Fort Collins. A rosy fog of ‘Undaunted’ ruby muhly grass (Muhlenbergia reverchonii Undaunted), one of Lauren’s introductions to the plant trade, laps against a tree-shaded patio — a view as perfect from Lauren’s kitchen window as on the approach from the driveway.

Lauren is one of my garden-writing heroes, whose groundbreaking book The Undaunted Garden inspired my own gardening efforts when I was starting out. I appreciate her making time for me and my husband to visit in the midst of a busy workweek. While Lauren asked me to keep her garden private aside from the use of these two photos, I encourage you to read about and view her garden in the book Visionary. She’s made a beautiful and distinctively northern Colorado garden.

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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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