JOSEPH GARDEN - ACEQUIA MADRE

Santa Fe’s historic east side is the ideal environment to showcase a garden style that is reminiscent of Santa Fe’s early European immigrants who grew ornamental gardens that included roses.  This Acequia Madre garden refers back to an earlier era where we would have seen roses, irises, lavender and daylilies gracing the adobe architecture, but the old-timey cultivars are reconsidered in this new garden.  Instead we have roses by the English rose breeder, David Austin, new irises varieties that re-bloom, long blooming daylilies, hardy peony selections, and we’ve added ornamental grasses.

The formal, yet abundant and colorful, circular garden has an old fountain as its centerpiece, and the loosely quadrangular beds that surround the circle contain plants with chartreuse and blue foliage.  Older established trees and large shrubs were kept in the remodel process, and they provide a context for the new plantings.  The traditional portal provides sheltered outdoor living in the summer months where views to the garden are appreciated.  The garden is used for entertaining large groups, smaller dinner parties, and intimate conversation in secluded seating areas.