November 10, 2026
I was amazed by the number of Open Days garden tours offered in the Boulder/Denver/Pueblo corridor all summer. I attended four different Open Day tours between May and September. Today I’m sharing the September tour, starting with the Denver Dry Garden (as she’s known on Instagram) of Heidi Harris.
Regular readers may remember the story of how Heidi began her garden, with major inspiration from David Salman of High Country Gardens. If you missed it, you can read that backstory here, and learn more about David Salman’s own garden here.
On this warm September afternoon, various pollinators were working their way through the garden…
…including moths on mealy blue sage (check out that tongue)…
…and bumblebees on azure blue sage.
So fuzzy and cute
Heidi’s garden is all about waterwise plants, including native and well-adapted plants that attract pollinators. It’s far more beautiful and interesting than a thirsty lawn could be in Denver’s semi-arid climate, which gets 14 to 15 inches of annual precipitation.
And while Heidi does grow some small cacti, there are many softer, flowery plants too, like agastache.
And sedums
Grasses — I think this is blue grama ‘Zig Zag’
Ironweed
Azure blue sage
And ‘Raspberry Delight’ salvia. Beyond is a small patio tucked in the shade of the house.
A collection of round pots elevated at different heights shows off interesting cacti and succulents.
View from the patio
Cholla, aloes, and other succulents thrive in baking sun with little water. Some of these need winter protection.
Native soapweed yucca and Texas-native desert willow
The long view
Heidi has packed a lot of wonderful plants into her long, skinny backyard.
I’m glad she continues to share it on tours and via her informative Instagram, which you should follow if you don’t already.
Up next: An almost otherworldly Red Rocks-esque garden in Morrison.
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