Horticultural Arts Society’s Heritage Garden
Horticultural Arts Society’s Heritage Garden
This elegant and intimate formal garden located adjacent to the historic Van Briggle Pottery Building in Monument Valley Park embodies the idea that Xeriscape is a design ethic not a design style. In that – a xeriscape garden can aesthetically “fit” into the historic Olmsteadian inspired Monument Valley Park and reestablish the park’s formal garden heritage in a new and sustainable way.
The garden spaces provide opportunity for solitary garden enjoyment, as well as ceremonial gatherings though the use of hardscape and plant selection. The Heritage Garden is a unique showcase of water-thrifty plants in a formal and historic setting.
“…Xeriscape is a design ethic and not a design style.”
The gardens’ formal axial layout links the historic Van Briggle Building visually thru the lawn ellipse, the arbor and rests in the Thyme Garden with its centerpiece Van Briggle sundial. Considering the same axis in the other direction, the park’s pastoral fishing pond – water – is linked thru the Thyme Garden, thru the arbor way and onto the luxurious elliptical lawn. The water connection to the lawn cannot be missed, but is counterbalanced by the surrounding water efficient plant beds, holding the xeriscape ethic clear.
Tapis Associates designed and oversaw the construction of the entire garden. Tapis continues with this project through volunteer work and was honored as HAS Volunteer of the Year in 2003.
The garden is an educational gift to Colorado Springs – it is always open to the public for both enjoyment and the study of the sustainable principles it embodies.
Client: Horticultural Arts Society
Location: Monument Valley Park, Colorado Springs, CO
Award: Partnership for Community Design
– Partnership Award 2007