Display Gardens
Here at Harlequin’s, we believe education is one of our most important products. Everyone knows how difficult it is to imagine what a mature plant is going to look like from seeing it in a small container, or even from a photo. Besides, we are continually testing plants to see if they are well-adapted to our difficult dry and windy North Boulder location. Usually, if a plant will grow and prosper for us, we know it will probably do well for most of you. Because we have been under water restrictions since 1985, you can trust that if we have it growing in the ground, it is very drought tolerant and it will succeed in your xeriscapes. These demo gardens are expensive for us and if you would like to contribute to their development, see the discussion under “Membership”.
The Xeriscape Rock Garden has been in existence since 1985. It is watered 5 times a year: May, June, 2x in July, Aug. The last 4 years of neglect and drought have been hard on it, and we will be rejuvenating it in 2003 with fresh compost and some new plants.
Xeric Ground Covers Test Area
66 different ground covers are being tested for their ability to hold up and look good in large areas. Half of them get approximately half the water required for Kentucky Bluegrass; the other half get one quarter the water for Bluegrass.
Native Shrubs
In several locations, we have native shrubs growing. These are watered to get established and then usually not at all after that. In July of 2002, we did water some of them once.
Xeriscape Herb Garden
We have mostly let this garden go, because we can’t afford to improve it at this time. However, even with only two watering in 2002, many of the herbs are surviving and some are thriving.
Roses
We have roses planted in many locations, but in 2001 we planted about 75 roses, both climbers and shrubs, in a test area. They are mulched and in 2003 we will be monitoring their water use.
Plant Select
Eve designed and planted this garden in 2002. Besides Plant Select, it contains some of Nebraska’s Great Plants for the Great Plains selection, plus some we like and are calling “Harlequin’s Select”.
“Penstemon Bed”
In 2002, Mikl planted a test area with exposure to the west wind and late afternoon sun with a lot of penstemons and rock garden plants. Many of the young plants had survived the heat and the drought, but the geese got out in November, and they pulled up a third of them.
When you visit our nursery, you are welcome to walk around and enjoy these gardens. We will continue to put more identification labels on the plants as time goes on. Please stay on the paths or at least don’t walk in the gardens, and tell your children to do the same. And please do not pick flowers or pieces of the plants. If we are not too busy, we will be happy to help you identify plants.