September 19, 2026
“Every winter we create a new garden room,” Katy Bohn told me during the June Open Days Tour of her Boulder garden. She and husband Gary clearly enjoy that creative process. Their garden rooms include an English-style flower garden in the front yard (pictured above), a Chinese garden with moon gate in the side yard, a Japanese gravel garden, a Monet-style bridge and pond, a butterfly garden, woodland garden, mountain stream garden, and more. Fun, right? Let’s explore!
I love how their painted mailbox echoes a clematis twining the post.
Cheerful garden art greets you.
Balloon flower and clematis
More balloon flower and red valerian
Red valerian
A clematis arch beckons you into the side yard.
Two kinds of clematis compete for space, doubling the flowers.
Lush plantings follow a curving path.
Pink clematis
Along the path, a turquoise birdbath displays posies and floating flowers from the garden.
It reminds me of Chanticleer. The branch with dragonfly art is a nice touch too.
A small Chinese-style garden culminates with a dramatic moon gate into the backyard.
The backyard is BIG. Looking left I saw a sunny flower garden…
…while straight ahead, a woodland garden wrapped around several large trees.
A shady spot to enjoy the view
A shady rock garden caught my eye. Rock gardens are often sited in full sun, so this is an interesting alternative.
Climbing the hillside path, I found cranesbill…
…and a small pond with a green Monet-style bridge.
At the top of the garden, rose trellises offer a peek-a-boo glimpse of open prairie beyond. I believe this is publicly accessible land with trails. What an expansive backdrop for the garden.
Looking down the main stair, I admired a round landing with an Asian character in the center. I wonder what it signifies.
The uphill view centers on a small patio shaded by a ramada.
It’s a perfect spot to enjoy a wide view of the garden.
Carthusian pink, I think
A wider view
Dwarf Colorado spruce
Zebra mallow
I really like the lantern and post design, which marks a transition between garden rooms.
From the other direction you see a Japanese-style gravel garden ahead.
Raked gravel represents water with stone islands
Looking back along the flowering slope
Feverfew adds cottage style, especially paired with a lacy white tuteur and shuttered mirror.
A shady stair along the fence is decorated maximally with metal flowers.
A frilly iron table and chairs painted blue offer a spot to sit.
Carthusian pink along a path
Katy and Gary took advantage of their slope by adding a mountain stream that cascades into a small pond. It looks entirely natural.
A closer look
Raised beds edged with stone display more flowering plants. Notice the red sempervivum springing from the cracks.
The lawn offers negative space — and room for future garden rooms.
Circling back to the ramada stair
A wider view
Heading out front, I discovered a small crevice garden…
…a cactus pot with a rubber snake…
…and stacked-stone ducks “swimming” through the garden. Cute!
California poppies and roses were glowing along the street — a pretty view for neighbors and passersby.
Up next: An elegant yet comfortable garden for entertaining and relaxing. For a look back at Anne Smith’s rock and trough garden in Boulder, click here.
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