Chris Moritz: landscape architect extraordinaire!

Cas and Chris Moritz

Early in my career I'd heard a lot about Chris Moritz: the premier landscape designer of the Denver area in the last half of the 20th Century. He'd grown up in Germany and lived in Switzerland prior to moving to Denver where he worked with the firm of Saco DeBoer before going out on his own. I shall never forget when an elegant European gentleman came up to me after my presentation at the very first Montana Green Industry trade show and said "you likely don't know who I am: I worked in Denver for many years. My name is Chris Moritz". I'd heard he'd moved to the Flathead Lake area--and was thrilled to find myself face to face with a horticultural legend! By the way, Cas has been a wonderful friend as well: their marriage and partnership is truly enviable. 

The photos that follow were all taken in the late afternoon of June 24 when I had the immense pleasure of having dinner with Chris and his wonderful wife Cas in Big Fork, Every corner of their garden had some extraordinary vignettes--this one tucked on the north side of his house where most visitors never go: that's a colossal giant Polygonum (Persicaria) polymorphum---higher than the eaves!

I was impressed at how well Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) does in Montana...

And a perfectly sited plant of Blue Avena Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) a plant Chris brought back from Europe--did I mention that he worked with the renowned Karl Foerster? He popularized this grass in our region through his designs.

A few glimpses of the incredibly elegant indoors, full of unique designs...

I love the way the garden and home flow into one another.

I was truly amazed at the extent of this garden and the variety of floral design: everything was in perfect health, and it seemed to be in peak bloom---although when I looked around I saw evidence that there had been an earlier sweep of spring color and lots of late summer and autumn flowers on the way!

Here is the gentleman himself: although we'd only become friends after he'd moved to Montana, our yearly visits have been an enormous delight for me.

Geranium ibericum

I'm guessing on the I.D.: this is one of the boldest of blue flowered geraniums in my book.

These pansies appeared to have become perennials in one part of the garden, carpeting the ground among the roses! The climate is so benign around Flathead Lakes--never too hot or cold! and the plants show it...

Crassula ovata

Some wonderful tender specimens, like this Jade Plant, that obviously move indoors and out.

The garden art was sparse, but very elegant!

Helleborus niger

It would be wonderful to see these Christmas roses in their peak bloom!

Briza media

Wonderful grasses, like this quaking grass, tucked here and there...

Aruncus dioicus

Chris has made the most stunning mass planting of Goatsbeard ever...you'll see several views of this wonderful plant in the Rose Family.

Several substantial Ponderosa pines provide shade and a note of grandeur to the lawn...

A salvia I did not recognize (Harrumph!) complementing the coral bells...

Wonderful edging of Heuchera sanguinea...

There were dozens of lilies along one woodland path--these were the first to open. 

I love the way the different textures combine..Hosta and daylily and geranium all so distinct.

I'm pretty sure this is a Geranium x cantabrigense cultivar--Chris had an enormous sweep of this planted...

There were several areas with tables at different points of the garden--you can tell this is a garden that is lived in!

The last of the German iris to bloom: our tall bearded iris were badly damaged by late frost this year!

Very happy Coral bells....

Many fine shrubs provide backdrop to the garden--Cornus, Viburnum and Physocarpus to name a few...

We end with the Goatsbeard, lawn and scarlet geraniums--as bold and elegant a planting as I've seen. I was so impressed with this garden, entirely weed free and everything so fresh and clean: Chris thanked me when I told him that, and sighed: "I wish you could have seen our LAST garden--much larger!".apparently he had downsized! Looked pretty grand to me......

I can only imagine!

If you've made it this far, you are in for a real treat! Chris has recorded a series of chats about his remarkable life and work. Click here to watch them...

Dreams do come true

Crinum bulbispermum (white flowered)

 Not everyone likes white flowers. Fie on them! I love white flowers. I can remember how enchanted I was on January 14, 2015 when I came upon a large planting of this pure white Crinum at Malealea Lodge in the heart of Lesotho. Of course this is the hardiest of all Crinum (we've a pink one at DBG for decades!). Where would I ever find this one?

I lingered around these clumps and took quite a few pictures.

Aha! FINALLY, I took this picture this morning, July 13--almost exactly six months and 11 years later. A company called "Easy to Grow Bulbs" was advertising a white Crinum bulbispermum. The price was very reasonable. I took it through one winter indoors--it was getting big. Planted it out in 2025. It zipped right through last winter just fine.

It may take a few years, but there is something very gratifying when our horticultural dreams come true!

Ladyslipper Heaven

Cypripedium montanum

While visiting with my gardening friends Michael and Amanda Wharton in Montana a few days ago, he casually mentioned he'd befriended a botanist on a trail in Glacier National Park who'd told him where there were scads of white ladyslippers blooming. I've been lucky enough to have seen scads of these once at Swift Dam in Montana--but jumped at the chance to re-experience ladyslipper heaven. Michael shared the location (at a campground no less!) and off we went. It was less than a mile off our itinerary towards Calgary. The site exceeded our fondest expectations: I have no doubt there were thousands of plants blooming there. I have never had my fill of "Cyps"-- so I am sharing a few of the many pictures I took there of them and a few of their companions. I think they speak for themselves!

A few had gone over and even had seedpods from last year!

Anemone multifida grew among them

As did this Erigeron (speciosus?)

Rosa woodsii

I COULD go on you know...

Time to tour!! A garden extravaganza....

This is a season for touring gardens in Denver: next weekend will be an especially busy one (my garden included: check here), but last week I conducted my own tour. I FINALLY visited the gardens of James Marquez (right) and David McCreedy (on the left)--who have created an extraordinary display I have driven by possibly thousands of times (I've driven east on 14th Avenue weekly for decades--their home is a few houses down the cross-street facing East it's not visible from 14th, otherwise I would have seen it and stopped by years ago!)... Their garden is well nigh perfect--every plant seems to grow its best, and the combinations are artful and endless. I could tell that this is a four season garden--worth visiting again and again throughout the year. Which I intend to do!

I asked the proud creators to let me take a picture: I was so distracted, I didn't take nearly enough pictures--especially of views. But I think you'll get the drift that this is a genuine masterpiece.

A Phlomis unlike any I have seen before. One of my favorite genera (ok I have a lot of favorite genera). I've grown a dozen or more taxa--this one is distinct in flower and foliage color. I NEED it!

One of far too few vistas I took--this from the street: I think this shows the artful way the plants gently rub shoulders with one another.

A champion Salvia that they believe rose as a seedling. It seems to have Turkish ancestry--slightly pinnate foliage like S. recognita which grew nearby. But much bluer...I think this is a winner!

Closeup of the flowers on the mystery Salvia, which has risen to the top of my wish list!

Phlomis monocephala

Yet another Phlomis--this one resembling the common P. fruticosa, but proving to be much hardier. Theirs looked much better than my two specimens!

Oenothera canescens

I have failed to establish this local endemic evening primrose. They have it in several spots! Not that I'm jealous or anything!

This looks like 'Paint the Town Magenta'--which I think would be better described as 'Paint the town Vermilion'

A stunningly perfect specimen of Pinus edulis 'Farmy' (or suchlike)--one of Jerry Morris' countless miniature pinon witch's broom selections.

Salvia lavandulifolia showcased perfectly.

More of that dang O. canescens! Just rub it in fellas!

Rosemary. Now Salvia rosmarinus, looking very happy indeed! 

A view toward the street with a robust fireweed in front that must be spectacular all summer...

They have numerous Spuria irises dotted here and there--blooming a month earlier than usual. I am especially fond of this group of irises that doesn't like my sand. They garden on clay, the lucky guys!

One of countless troughs dotted around their garden.

A strange variation on Love-in-a-mist, Nigella damascena--one of my favorite annuals scattered here and there!

Verbascum chaixii and Dianthus knappii

I just realized my yellow "pink" has died out. I want it back! They share my love of mulleins!

Closer look at Dianthus knappii looking very compact.

A glorious Eryngo (variation on alpinum?) Every plant seems to stand out and yet combine with the next--real plantsmanship!

My mother's first name was Artemisia, so I have a vested interested in the genus (yes, I confess...I was a "mommy's boy". Here's one I never saw before (I have to beg a piece come to think of it!)

Ligusticum scoticum--with a bizzare distrubution across the Atlantic--is one of my favorite shade lovers. This is the only other garden I've seen it in!

Another of the innumerable troughs...

Daphne x transatlantica 'Eternal Fragrance'

The picture doesn't do the plant justice: and believe me the fragrance was overwhelmingly sweet!

I believe this is Pinella pedatifida--although my form looks a tad different. A terrible weed in Maritime climates, James and David find it manageable (as do I).

Maybe the finest specimen of Lonicera floribunda 'Blue Velvet' I have ever seen: they planted it themselves--so it is not as ancient as it looks!

They had several 'Itoh' peonies--this one was a new one for me. 

Trifolium rubens

I thought I was the only one growing this in Denver! Mine isn't blooming yet this year--interestingly...

They've joined in on the crevice revolution..

We're in the backyard now--altogether different mood here.

A distinctive trough with an oak leaf inlay

Monardella macrantha 'Marion Sampson" nicely complements the miniature columbine. Their success with trumpet gentians in troughs inspires me to try doing the same...

Now THIS is a true dollhouse yucca (Yucca nana): is that cute or what?

Wonderful edgings of bricks, and compact groundcovers...

I was astonished to see Epipactis gigantea 'Serpentine night' thriving in one of the Woodland beds...

A slightly closer view of this Coastal California form of our native chatterbox orchid. So jealous!

Wonderful troughs full of cacti here and there all over their property,

A venerable clump of Dianthus anatolicus in a trough. They grow EVERYTHING!

I know I missed half the plants that were blooming and a few weeks later there will undoubtedly be a whole new suite of plants blooming (and so on through the seasons). Inexplicably, this garden has never (yet) been featured by the Garden Conservatory. I hope that will be rectified next year...

But I assure you there are a fantastic suite of gardens you can visit the next few weekends in Denver, then Boulder and more beyond (including my own, he says blushing) Just click on this link to find out more: Garden Conservancy tours

Touring gardens is the most benign form of industrial espionage! And totally legal (and moral). Just do it!