June 16, 2026
A few weeks ago, on my drive back from Domenic’s Garden, I stopped in Castle Rock to meet Ryan and Alison Harter. Ryan is known online as thexericgarden, where he shares his love of crevis gardens, water gardening, and abundant flowers. It’s always great to see what’s going on in their garden. They had just hosted a rock gardening tour group that day, but somehow they still had the energy to walk around and talk to me about plants.
I was immediately drawn to a pair of spiny blue-green agave plants in the front garden. Ah, it feels like I’m seeing my friend from Texas again.
The garden was brightly colored with dianthus, catmint, salvia, irises, columbine, and coral bells.
Hens and chicks slip through the cracks, part of what Ryan calls the Ring of Fire, which outlines a small circular lawn.
It’s very cute.
Dianthus has a sweet fragrance and looks attractive among the rocks.
Two interstitial containers containing striking purple and gray stones and small sedums sit atop the rocks, drawing the eye to the front door.
Ryan said he’s not completely satisfied with it, but I like it.
Another crevice planter adds drama with black stones and orange sedum.
Coral bells edge the front walkway, and a dry stream stands ready to handle overflow from the downspouts.
purple trio
This purple combination caught my eye. I think it was sedum and creeping thyme.
Penstemon catching the light
“Snow Leopard” baby cholla with red stones in a red pot – lots of interesting textures here.
backyard garden
In the backyard, the stone steps planted with hot pink ice plants were still vibrant, even though the flowers were dying down.
The viola was growing charmingly in the cracks.
yellow yarrow
Looking at the distant view towards the house
The garden is on a slope, so when you climb up you can see the overlapping plants.
Red Yucca, another old friend from Texas
Flowering blue autograss arches out and sparkles like spray from a fountain.
even more layers
The middle level of the hillside garden features a patio with a fire pit and veronicas crawling on the flagstones.
It’s becoming a living Veronica patio.
catmint and yellow buckwheat
One more thing
Himebane
And more soba
lilac
cat mint
blue oat grass
Looking up at the stone steps
Check out this otherworldly purple rock.
Viola and ice plants, all closed in the evening
last light in the garden
Dianthus
The filamentous blue-green leaves are also beautiful.
Rhythmic splashes of pink will lead you on your way.
Another oat grass fountain
And one more thing
If you think rock gardens are drab and minimalist, just look at Ryan and Alison’s garden and you’ll see that it’s lush and colorful.
Thank you for another wonderful visit!
Want to know more? Last summer I wrote a big two-part blog post about this garden. Feast your eyes here and here.
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