When I first read the architect’s landscape description for the new Montezuma-Cortez High School, one word came to mind: “respect.”
Respect for the environment, our area, and the Native American culture. The respect shows in the trees, shrubs, and perennials that surround the new high school.
From the architect’s description:
“Native plants such as piñon, ponderosa pines, gambel oak, and Rocky Mountain juniper form the backbone of native plantings to emulate the oak and evergreen thickets found throughout the valley. Trees such as maple, ornamental pear and red oak are utilized near the building and in parking lots to buffer the courtyard from winds and provide shade and seasonal color. Native shrubs such as potentilla, sumac, apache plume, serviceberry and sage are used site-wide to bring the landscape of the mesas and foothills into the site and create a sense of place.”
I walked the grounds recently one afternoon and made a list of plantings that are most adaptable to a home landscape in our area. Some plants may be better suited to one area over another, so check with your local garden expert before you start digging.
The shrubs
Grow Low Sumac
It’s a dense, shrubby sumac that’s great for the area. Drought-tolerant, this sturdy, hardy plant stays low, reaching a mature height of only 1-2 inches but spreading to about 6 feet when fully grown. It is covered with fragrant flowers each spring. It is native to our area, as are Three Leaf Sumacs, which are also planted on the grounds. Three Leaf Sumacs have been used here for centuries for medicinal and other purposes.
Potentilla
These are some of my favorites because of the abundance of small, brightly colored flowers that bloom through summer. They come in a variety of colors, but most commonly, yellow or white. Potentilla are drought-tolerant once they are rooted in, but until then, they may require several daily waterings during hot, dry summer days. At maturity, they will reach a height and span of 3-4 feet, making them a good choice for the home.
Mugho Pine
Mugho are also a great choice for our area. These dense pines come in two forms – a standard and a dwarf size. They are hardy down to Zone 2 – from Telluride south – and still do well in your landscape. Although the standard size can get quite large, reaching a height of 12-15 feet, the dwarf version stays small at about 3-4 feet and makes a great landscape plant. Pines have significant meanings and uses in Native American culture.
Sea Green Juniper
Tough and hardy, juniper is widely used throughout our area. The Sea Green Juniper is a nice fill-in plant, though often it has a love-hate relationship with homeowners. Those who don’t like them are opposed to their prickliness, many are allergic to their pollen in the spring, and other than their blue or green hue, there is little other color because there are no flowers. Some varieties of juniper have gorgeous blue berries that are widely popular in winter decorations. Sea Green Juniper can grow 4-6 feet high and spread 6-8 feet wide, so they can overpower a small area if not pruned regularly. Juniper is sacred to some tribes and is used for food, teas and a wide variety of medicinal purposes.
The trees
Eastern Redbud
Although not a large tree, Eastern Redbud is also a great choice for this area because it provides a nice amount of shade in places where you otherwise don’t have room for a large deciduous tree. At full maturity, it usually isn’t more than about 16-18 feet high and wide, so it’s a nice tree for small yards. With pretty, heart-shape leaves, this tree has pretty, vibrant purple flowers in the spring and will provide good color to your home landscape. It’s drought-tolerant and can tolerate full sun, which makes a nice addition, even though it isn’t native to this area.
Austrian Pine
A staple in our area, you’ll find Austrian Pine trees in many landscapes. It does well here, but does best at altitudes less than 7,000 feet. This is a big fellow and can grow to 40-50 feet, so be sure to give it some space when you plant. Drought-tolerant, the dark-green foliage and nice growth habit makes it a really nice, solid tree to include in your yard if you have the room. As with the mugho and piñon pine, pines in general have a long history of uses, from medicinal to ceremonial, in Native American culture.
Ponderosa Pine
Ponderosas are native to this area but are usually found naturally at a slightly higher elevation – between 7,000 and 8,500 feet. Ponderosas are drought-tolerant once established. They are some of the big boys of the pine family and can grow to 100 feet, so be careful where you plant them. Pines are a significant representation in the landscape at the high school because of their meaning to the cultures represented here.
A final word on respect
Respect for the sense of place which the new high school has created is evident in the choice of landscape plants around the new building. Respect for the learning that will take place there. Respect for the students who will attend and the wide variety of cultures that they represent. Respect for the area and the environment in the choices of the plants that will grow and thrive as well on the grounds as all of those who learn and work there.
Gail Vanik can be reached at Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery at 565-8274 or by email at “fourseasons@animas.net.”