Garden In A Box Community Spotlight: Pat of Lakewood

Join the Garden In A Box team as we share community stories to inspire more Coloradans to ditch their thirsty lawns for waterwise landscapes. This month, we spoke with Pat from Lakewood about their experience.

What inspired you to plant a low water garden?

My small home is on a nearly 0.25 acre lot, and I used a LOT of water in landscaping, between my Kentucky Bluegrass lawn and vegetable gardens. Not to mention herbicides and fertilizers to keep that bluegrass alive – ugh. It just got to be too much after I just had a single income for my household.

What changes have you noticed in your yard since planting your garden?

Hummingbirds actually nest in my yard instead of just passing through, and I’ve seen so many different species of bees and butterflies! And the amount of birds passing through has increased. In fact, I’ve seen goldfinches, spotted towhees, and dark-eyed juncos eating the seeds left behind by the Maximilian sunflowers and others.

What’s your favorite plant from your garden kit?

I love the coreopsis – they get so big and they’re so cheerful! I think the chocolate flowers are amazing because they smell so good. The hummingbirds love the hyssop and the penstemon. My son especially loves the sedums because they’re so funky, and he likes the yarrows because they’re tall enough for him to smell without bending over too much (he’s 6”2)!