June 19, 2026
Drive two hours south from Denver to Pueblo and you’re in a hotter, drier climate where cacti and yuccas are at home. On June 6, I visited three pueblo gardens open to the public as part of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program. At the Conrad Family Garden, we admired the terraced xeriscape of yucca, cholla, prickly pear, and other drought-loving plants.
Amazingly, the two-acre property also includes a spring-fed pond and wetland garden.
Perched high on the grounds, this fine adobe house (which is for sale, by the way) enjoys views of the pond, distant mountains, woodland gardens and sunny gardens.
What attracted me most were the dry terraced fields on the rocky slopes. A few yucca trunks with showy flower spikes stood out against the dark screen of pines and cypresses.
Benches are attractively built on stone terraces along the walkways.
Chocolate daisies add color and scent – yes, the scent of chocolate.
One more thing
The large Yucca rostrata reminded me of the gardens in Austin. Chora is also good.
small cactus blooming between rocks
A yucca with multiple flower spikes stretches towards the sun.
Thank you to the owner who opened his garden while selling his house. I hope the next owner will like this garden too!
Next up is a tour of the Sage Queen Garden, a “festival of pollinators.”
We look forward to your comments. If you want to keep one, scroll to the end of this post. If you’re reading by email, click here to go to Digging and find the comment box at the end of each post. By the way, someone forwarded this email to you and would you like to subscribe? Click here to get Digging delivered straight to your inbox.
__________________________
dig deeper
“‘Gardens of Texas’ is not your typical doorstop-cum-coffee-table book filled with beautiful images of beautiful gardens you could never hope to realize. The photographs are definitely inspiring, but Pam’s thoughtful and detailed storytelling and the ‘Try This At Home’s features make me feel empowered to create similar garden magic…on a late August afternoon when the mercury soars in Austin and we’re stuck indoors, this is what I curl up with. ”
–MomInAustin, Amazon Reviewer
Gardens of Texas: A vision of resilience from the Lone Star State is here! Enjoyed by anyone who loves gardens and the natural beauty of Texas. Get it on Amazon, other online book retailers, and all stores. Click here for more information.
All materials © 2026 by Pam Penick for Digging. All rights reserved.
