Come Walk In My Garden
Botanic Geniuses Ready To Open Their Gates For The 23rd Annual June 11 Park Hill Garden Walk
By Jean Ercolani
Park Hill Garden Walk Organizer
Eight gardens, including three in the Mayfair neighborhood will be featured at the 23rd Park Hill Garden Walk on Sunday, June 11. Nineteen local artists will also show, share, and sell their work in the gardens. You’ll find sculpture, oil and watercolor paintings, mixed media, paper arts, wood cuts and botanical prints, with many artists working en plein air.
We spoke with a few of the botanic geniuses whose gardens will be featured about their interests, struggles and pure enjoyment of gardening. Each outdoor oasis these gardeners have created is as different and unique as the gardeners themselves. At the same time, each of these individuals share similarities in the struggles they encounter with Colorado’s Front Range climate. Their advice to others is consistent: Be patient, have fun, and enjoy your creation.
All of these gardeners take their time, study what works, where it works and what the plant needs in terms of water and nutrients. A couple of them referenced the TV show Gardeners World on BBC — which provides great gardening tips and information.
For them, gardening is not just something you do in the summer. It’s a year-round endeavor that encompasses planning, experimenting, learning, failure, success and happiness. Lots and lots of happiness.
Where did your love and interest of gardening originate? (Hint: Their mothers got them started.)
Kyle Kimmal and Ron Davis – Kyle’s mom was a florist and thus started his interest in plants. Kyle’s gardening interest soon rubbed off on Ron and they experimented together with various plants and techniques. At one point, Rob Proctor, a professional gardener, was their neighbor and taught them about gardening year-round. They were also part of a community garden when they lived in a row house near 10th and Emerson. Their lives took them to Boston for a few years where they took over vacant lots to build a community garden. Their effort was appreciated by the community, and helped them get to know their neighbors.
Colin Ammerman and Mark Wren – Colin is definitely the gardener. Mark says Colin has the “green thumb” and he has the “rusty one.” Colin grew up in England and was always helping his Mum in the garden. At his mother’s urging, he transposed a rough portion of is childhood yard into a beautiful garden. Another significant trait he learned from his Mum is starting everything from seed. To this day, 95 percent of his garden plants are from seed.
Mark is a metal sculptor, and his creative work is also visible throughout the space. Thus, the “rusty one.”
John Desmond – John’s mother was also a gardener and she gave him a piece of the yard to grow whatever he wanted. That started a lifetime of creating interesting and inviting outdoor spaces. Regardless of where he lived, he always strived to have a small garden. At his current home, he has tried to use interesting elements like curvy retaining walls to break up the square, boxy look of the home’s exterior. That was one of the first things he tackled when he moved in more than 20 years ago.
What do you enjoy most about gardening?
Kimmal and Davis – “We just love being outside and decompressing.” Kyle and Ron walk through the yard, picking flowers and harvesting the veggies and herbs. Ron loves to cook, and their fresh vegetables and herbs are key elements in their summer menu.
Ammerman – “I just love watching everything grow and be happy.” Remember, Colin starts most of his garden from seed. Some of the plants shoot up to provide vegetables and herbs, while others become flowers and other botanics. Colin likes to play with different plants that typically don’t do well in Colorado. Last year’s experiment was loofah, which is actually a gourd. It grew 10 to 15 feet in one week and overtook one side of the house.
Desmond – John loves it when people walk past and stop to talk with him about his plants and ask him questions about his garden. He also feels like he is giving back to the neighborhood by having a nice yard, and likes how people feel when they see it. Even his Christmas decorations bring a sense of enjoyment and giving back to the community.
Do you have a favorite area and what makes it special to you?
Kimmal and Davis – It’s all about the vegetables and herbs. Kyle and Ron love to pick them and cook them up in some yummy dish, and they also enjoy sitting on the patio and looking at their plethora of plants and flowers and just take it all in. They also appreciate a pleasant stroll around the 36 rose bushes in their yard.
Ammerman – There is a particular place in the back corner of the yard under a tree that Colin is fond of. He has planted ferns around this area and will sit out there with a good book and take in the beauty of the yard. Sometimes, he will call his Mum back in England from this special corner of the yard for a little chat. It’s also a wonderful place to enjoy a glass of wine in the evening.
Desmond – The front porch is John’s favorite place. It offers a great vantage point to see the front yard and many of the potted plants, mostly annuals. He also brings most of his indoor plants out to the front porch in the summer. Between the annuals and the indoor plants, his front porch becomes a lush little jungle.
What are your biggest gardening challenges? How do you get past them?
Kimmal and Davis – The biggest challenges are soil, the Colorado climate, and conservation needs. The best way to get past this is to focus on native Colorado plants. Kyle and Ron originally wanted a cottage garden, but due to these challenges, developed more of a prairie-cottage garden. They also planted things that will attract birds, bees and butterflies. The correct low-water plants will attract more bees and fewer wasps.
Ammerman – The overarching challenge is the Colorado climate. It is hot, dry and it’s a short season. Colin has had to learn what will thrive here. He has also struggled with figuring out what’s the right plant, in the right place, and planting it at the right time. He practices putting plants in different locations until he finds the best place for that specific plant. It’s a constant learning curve.
Desmond – Bindweed has been the bane of John’s gardening existence. When he retired, he finally had the time to stay on top of it, and he thinks it’s finally under control. He also struggles with a lot of issues around his 100-year old Siberian elm tree. He has spent a lot of time and money to keep the tree alive. It’s also hard to get anything to grow under it, and he has tried xeriscape and native plants to help beautify this area of his garden.
What tips do you have for someone wanting to start or improve their yard/outdoor space?
Kimmal and Davis – Visit the Denver Botanic Gardens and Centennial Gardens, which feature native and drought tolerant plants. Also, walk the neighborhood and check out what is working in other people’s gardens. Don’t be afraid to talk to these gardeners about their plants, struggles and success. You also need to be patient. Plan your outdoor space in sections. Don’t try to do it all at once. Maybe most importantly, have fun and enjoy it. Take pictures as you go and watch the changes.
Ammerman – Have fun and experiment with different plants in different places. Colin moves things around a lot just to change the visual interest of the yard. Gardening is always a work in progress, so be patient. For ideas and inspiration, visit the Denver Botanic Gardens. He also recommended a Google camera app, which allows you take a picture of a plant and have Google try to identify what it is.
Desmond – Start small, get the soil right and get the irrigation right. Also, understand the micro-climates in your yards. Take a season to observe what works and what doesn’t work. You can do this by walking through the neighborhood. Pay attention to plants in the neighborhood and determine grows and where. For example, you can’t grow a vegetable garden in a heavily shaded area. Build up your confidence and go from there.
The Park Hill Garden Walk committee is a group of volunteers working to raise funds for Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. GPHC, Inc., is a volunteer-based registered neighborhood organization that promotes the character and vibrancy of Park Hill through resources, information and advocacy, while preserving the quality of life and the history of the neighborhood through community participation. Learn more and get involved at greaterparkhill.org.
Get Your Tickets
Proceeds For The Garden Walk Benefit Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.
Tickets to the June 11 Park Hill Garden Walk are available now at parkhillgardenwalk.org for $15. Cost for seniors age 65-plus is $12, and children under 12 attend free.
Tickets purchased online will be available for pickup the day of the event at 19th Avenue and Forest Parkway between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Simply drive up, have your proof of purchase ready to show the Garden Walk volunteer and they will give you your ticket(s).
Tickets are also available now at the following Park Hill establishments:
• City Floral: 1440 Kearney Street
• Spinelli’s Market: 4621 E. 23rd Ave.
• Cake Crumbs: 2216 Kearney Street
• Park Hill Branch Library: 4705 Montview Blvd.
• Park Hill Art Festival on June 3 and 4: 4958 Montview Blvd.
Tickets will be available the day of the event via Venmo for $20 at any Garden Walk location.