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  • Grassy backyard with fence
  • Backyard with house and lawn chairs
  • Grass removed from backyard along fenceline
  • Garden planted and mulched with stone path and lawn chairs
  • Close up of new garden, mulch, rocks, and sitting area
  • Garden planted and mulched with rock edging and stone path
  • 3 years after garden was planted with grown plants and stone walkway
  • 3 year old garden with larger plants and sitting area
  • 3 year old garden blooming next to remaining grass yard
  • 3 year old garden blooming with grassy backyard

Owner

Heather

City

Thornton

Skill Set

Intermediate

Project Size

500 - 750 sq ft

Project Location

Front yard

Sun Exposure

Full sun

Year Completed

2018

Time Commitment

11 - 20 hours of labor

Project Cost

less than $500

Other Project Elements

Drip irrigation system, Pathways, Patio/sitting areas

Resource Central Programs

Slow the Flow, Grass to Garden, Garden In A Box

Advice from the Owner

Make a space that works for you! We still wanted an area to have our morning coffee, so we needed to incorporate a walking path and a little seating area. Overall, we love our new garden (and have way less lawn to mow)!

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  • close up of xeric flowers in garden
  • close up of bug on yellow flower, green foliage
  • purple balloon flower with green foliage
  • close up of native Colorado bee on pink coneflower
  • close up of yellow goldenrod flower
  • blue dragonfly on green plant foliage
  • blooming garden in front of house
  • garden and grass in front yard of home
  • house with grass and garden in front yard
  • close up of bee on pink coneflower

Owner

Kathy

City

Thornton

Skill Set

Beginner

Project Size

250 - 500 sq ft

Project Location

Front yard

Sun Exposure

Full sun

Year Completed

2018

Time Commitment

31 - 40 hours of labor

Project Cost

Less than $500

Other Project Elements

Low water/xeric plants

Resource Central Programs

Slow the Flow, Garden In A Box

Advice from the Owner

I love watching the bees enjoying the flowers as much as I do. I like sitting on my front porch to watch the flowers, bees, dragonflies and birds. Each year there is a new surprise as to what will come up as the flowers continue to seed and spread. Additionally, I did not need to purchase items for a drip system as all I had to do was shut down an entire sprinkler zone.

Watch the interview with Kathy

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  • house with lawn and lush garden
  • lush colorful garden next to house
  • orange butterfly on yellow flower
  • bright pink flower close up with green foliage
  • close up of yellow flowers
  • pink flowers with green foliage
  • close up of xeriscape perennial garden
  • stone pathway through newly planted garden
  • newly planted flowers mulched and surrounded by gravel mulch

Owner

Alisa

City

Thornton

Skill Set

Beginner

Project Size

1,000+ sq ft

Project Location

Back yard

Sun Exposure

Full sun

Year Completed

2018, 2019

Time Commitment

10 hours of labor or less

Project Cost

Less than $500

Other Project Elements

Drip irrigation system, Pathways, Patio/sitting areas, Bird/Bee houses

Resource Central Programs

Slow the Flow, Lawn Removal Consultation, Garden In A Box

Advice from the Owner

It is so scary when you start and SO WORTH IT when you're done.

Watch the interview with Alisa

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