Gardens offer Utah landscapers ideas

WEST JORDAN — Landscaping (or relandscaping) your yard is a process that requires a lot of thought about plant selection and plant placement.

In the past two columns, I've discussed the advantages of using native plants in your landscape as well as what trees and shrubs do well in Utah's climate.

So where else can you turn to learn more? The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District gardens.

Although the primary focus of the gardens is water use, the excellent labeling and the pleasant designs will give you great ideas for your own yard.

To learn more about these gardens, I visited Kathryn Brown, the lead horticulturist. Brown, who was born in Salt Lake City, grew up in Mesa, Ariz., where she spent a lot of time in her family's vegetable gardens. Upon high school graduation, she attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University, where she obtained a degree in art education.

While studying art, she also studied floral design. She eventually landed a position at Temple Square, spending three years helping design and maintain the gardens there; she moved to the conservancy district's gardens three years ago.

The northern half of the 2.6-acre garden is a collection of six theme gardens arranged into different water-use areas. The six gardens are a Traditional Utah Landscape, a Modified Traditional Landscape, a Woodland Landscape, a High Mountain Desert Landscape, a Harvest Landscape and a Perennial Landscape.

As Brown leads visitors through the gardens, she offers advice on helping them select plants for their landscapes.

"I start by asking them what the exposure is for the plant," she said. "Is it going to be in the sun or the shade? I then ask them what the plans are for their landscape. What kind of landscape look are you seeking? Some people do not like the desert look."

Brown also likes to check on irrigation options. "Are they starting without a system or are they trying to change what they have? Do they have some areas where they have no water? If so, I try to show them some plants that will work in those areas."

For example, the Traditional Utah Landscape garden receives more than 2 feet of supplemental irrigation each season, while the High Mountain Desert Landscape garden hasn't had any supplemental irrigation since the plants in it became established. This water-thrifty garden is typical of the Great Basin. It uses native plants and rock mulch to conserve and stretch water resources.