Object Details
- General
- At 8,200 feet in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado there is a public garden created in 1985 by the Vail Alpine Garden Foundation. In 1988 the garden was named for former first lady Betty Ford who spoke about her family's love of gardening. The garden has more than 3,000 species of high altitude plants including native Colorado species and varieties that grow at high altitudes in other parts of the world. It contains both mountain plants including many conifers and plants that grow above tree line, technically alpine. Four garden areas were designed: a mountain perennial garden established in 1989, a mountain meditation garden started in 1991, an alpine rock garden since 1999, and a children's garden founded in 2002. There are children's programs coordinated with a local school including an annual butterfly launch for third graders from two counties, and classes in horticultural therapy, along with many other programs. The Gardens are open every day of the year although paths are not cleared in the winter. The Gardens employs five staff members and volunteers and docents who contribute more than 3,500 hours annually. With a strong commitment to conservation the Gardens works in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Botanic Gardens International and the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. Behind the scenes the work includes the study and conservation of Colorado's rare flora. Persons associated with the garden's design: Marty Jones, landscape designer and Helen Fritch.
- Owner
- Vail Alpine Garden Foundation
- Honoree
- Ford, Betty, 1918-2011
- Landscape designer
- Jones, Marty
- Garden collaborator
- Fritch, Helen
- Collection Photographer
- Jeruss, Irene
- Place
- United States -- Colorado -- Eagle County -- Vail
- Betty Ford Alpine Garden (Vail, Colorado)
- Topic
- Gardens -- Colorado -- Vail
- Rock gardens
- Alpine gardens
- Public gardens
- Native plant gardens
- Healing gardens
- Demonstration gardens
- School gardens
- Flower beds
- Aspen
- Arches
- Entrances
- Signs and signboards
- Walkways, flagstone
- Benches
- Prunus
- Mountains -- Colorado
- Ornamental evergreens
- Ornamental grasses
- Fir
- Alpine garden plants
- Botanical gardens
- Water gardens
- Ponds
- Garden ornaments and furniture
- Bridges
- Stairs
- Waterfalls
- Log cabins
- Hillside planting
- Flower gardening
- Wild flower gardening
- Flowers
- Shrubs
- Trees
- Owner
- Vail Alpine Garden Foundation
- Honoree
- Ford, Betty, 1918-2011
- Landscape designer
- Jones, Marty
- Garden collaborator
- Fritch, Helen
- See more items in
- Irene Jeruss garden photography collection
- Irene Jeruss garden photography collection / Garden Images / Colorado
- Extent
- 27 Slides (photographs)
- Date
- 2005
- Container
- Box 1
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.JER, File CO046_JER
- Type
- Archival materials
- Slides
- Slides (photographs)
- Digital images
- Collection Citation
- Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Irene Jeruss Garden Photography Collection
- Collection Rights
- Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
- Genre/Form
- Digital images
- Scope and Contents
- 27 digital images and 1 file folder.
- Collection Restrictions
- Access to collection by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
- Record ID
- ebl-1654277100508-1654277101048-1
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