Welcome to the Gardens!
It’s been a beautiful Springtime here at La Posada. The sweet smell of blooms is filling the air. We’re busy cleaning up after a long winter and working on several projects: seeding, weeding, fertilizing, mulching, planting, and dead heading to name just a few, whew! The water features are flowing, birds are singing and the pollinators are returning to the Gardens.
While working in the Gardens at La Posada these past six years, l’ve found my favorite spaces and would like to share them with you, so grab a map from the front desk, and let’s explore!
North Entry Garden
The North walkway heading towards the front entrance of the Hotel is named The Entry Garden, and is filling in with flowers and smelling sweet. This is a perennial garden brimming with: Chocolate Flower, Cat Mint, Rubber Rabbitbrush, Blanket Flower, Rosemary, Mint, Hollyhock, Vitex, Potentilla and Sunflowers. These fragrant flowers attract a variety of pollinators; look for bees, moths, birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, praying mantis, lizards, skinks and many others. This area is a prime example of why La Posada is a Certified Wildlife Habitat. We’re providing water, shelter, and food for all creatures big and small while employing organic and sustainable methods.
Quince Grove
Another favorite spot in the Gardens is the Quince Grove located on the West Walk towards the Sunken Garden. These trees are as old as the Hotel and are thought to have been planted by Mary Colter in 1930. A quince is like a cross between an apple and a pear, but fuzzy! They aren’t tasty raw, but are delicious when Chef makes them into pies or chutney as a seasonal treat in the Turquoise Room. This is a peaceful shady space where you’ll occasionally hear the tinkling of piano music coming from the second floor window. Note the nitrogen rich Alfalfa and Pomegranate tree which also inhabit this area.
Southwest Corner
A less frequented spot in the gardens that l cherish is the Orchard area in the very Southwest corner of the property. Look for Pear, Plum, Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples and Mormon Apricot. Most of the fruit from these trees feed the birds and critters, but the blossoms are beautiful right now. Take five on the Hippo Bench and watch the trains go by. This is a prime spot to look and listen for raptors.
Northwest Corner
Head over to the opposite (NW) corner of the gardens and take a gander at the Garden Sheds. These structures were built in the 1930’s to replicate Fort Brigham, a Mormon settlement North of Winslow. Peek your head in and say hello, we’d love to show you around! The newly installed raised beds, near the Garden Sheds, will do well in this protected space. We’ll be planting our warm weather crops as soon as temperatures increase and our freeze threat is over.
Share your Thoughts!
These are a few of my favorite spots, what are yours? Look for this post on the La Posada Facebook page and share your thoughts, we’d love to hear from you!
Spring Projects
- Feed, aerate, and de-thatch lawn areas.
- Art installation and xeriscaping in the Downtown Lawn area.
- Verde River Growers tree, shrub and perennial order and delivery.
- Warm weather crops for the Chef’s beds, tomatoes, melons, peppers, beans and herbs.
- Till and fertilize the Milpa (W crop area) to prepare for the sowing of Hopi Amaranth, Dry corn varieties, Sunflower, Alfalfa, Hollyhock and Prarie Clover seeds.