Most people think landscape design is about plants. They’re not wrong, exactly. Plants matter. We think carefully about which ones will bloom, which ones will thrive, which ones can survive a Colorado summer without throwing in the towel. But that’s not really what we’re doing here at The Happy Gardener. What we’re actually designing for is people . We Ask a Different Question Before a single shrub goes into the ground, we ask: What will be their experience? When someone pull

When I think of me, as just me, I forget I could be a tree. A tree accepts what it is given, doesn’t react to the small voices that come by now and then talking of all that could be and is not, with no meaning given to not being chosen to sit beside me, and only wonder if my sap is beginning to move the energy within me.                   When I arrived here from the nursery, they seemed to be talking about whether it would be this place or that, will there be enough room for

November might feel like the end of the gardening season—but for those in the know, it's actually the beginning of something new. It’s a time for reflection, imagination, and preparation. The nurseries are quiet, the rush is over, and now you have room to think. Tagawa and Pine Lane Nursery are peaceful this time of year. It’s the perfect moment to start dreaming—what do you want to replace? What new plants are on your wish list? Who can you talk to about next year’s plans? T

Some plants shine for a moment. The Royal Raindrops Crabapple shines all year. From brilliant spring blossoms to winter berries that feed the birds, this compact, resilient tree brings color, structure, and seasonal interest to any Colorado landscape. Here’s why it’s a favorite of The Happy Gardener.

Some time ago, I was browsing the perennials at Tagawa Gardens, and one of the helpful salespeople asked me, “Have you heard about the three-year rule for perennials in Colorado?” “There’s a three-year rule?” “Yes,” she said. “In the first year, the plant is sleeping . In the second year, it’s creeping . And in the third year, it’s leaping .” I had never heard that before, and I asked her to tell me more. What she shared was less about botany and more about expectations. YEAR

It’s August. School is starting again, and summer already feels like it came and went in a blink. When school lets out in May, it feels like we have all the time in the world - but suddenly, we’re back in backpacks and lunchboxes. That’s why I’m writing now about something that sneaks up on us: planting fall bulbs for spring blooms . October is just around the corner, and that’s prime time to plant things like daffodils, allium, crocus - even peonies like Sarah Bernhardt , Fe

As we journey through life, it's important to remember that it's never too late to start something new. Just as we can plant a new flower...