On the Roof of the Rocky Mountains tells the story of the world-renowned Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the highest botanical garden in North America, located in Vail, Colorado.
Beginning with the Gardens’ humble origins in Vail, the book traces its four-decade evolution from pocket-sized demonstration plot to esteemed public botanical garden.
Illustrated with 285 full-color images by professional landscape photographers, the book (which retails for $45) transports readers through the exquisite alpine landscapes around the world before focusing on the Rocky Mountains and Betty Ford Alpine Gardens’ own unique collections of over 3,000 alpine species. Perseverance in the face of climate change is a theme throughout the book, which features guest essays by internationally-recognized botanical experts, esteemed scientists, and distinguished botanical garden leaders including Peter Raven, Sara Oldfield, David Inouye, and Panayoti Kelaidis.
From the publishers of Architectural Digest and Bon Appetit magazines comes a book about discovery, observation, fulfillment, and their many lessons learned while building a home and settling in the Rocky Mountain West.
Living Beneath the Colorado Peaks tells the fascinating story of the Knapps’ dedication to the design, history, conservation, and appreciation of the Rocky Mountain landscape. Photographer Todd Winslow Pierce’s rich imagery and writer Sarah Chase Shaw’s descriptive prose add dimension to the cultural and natural history of the region and its influence on the architecture, interior design, and landscape. Sprinkled throughout the book are indelible stories of the relationships forged between the Knapps and a cadre of craftspeople, designers, and builders, all of whom were dedicated to the integrity and the challenges of pursuing the historical building methods and artistry embedded in every detail. Ultimately, it’s the story of discovery, observation, fulfillment and self-sufficiency, and the many lessons learned throughout the process of building Knapp Ranch as it is today.
Garden Legacy explores nine gardens in the Rocky Mountain West and desert Southwest designed by Design Workshop, Inc., an internationally-recognized landscape architecture and planning firm. This second book of residential garden design weaves together images and words to pain a picture of a pattern language and design style that celebrates the beauty of a region marked by arid landscapes, intense sun, and endless vistas.
Gardens in Colorado, Wyoming, and Arizona are featured in this book, published in 2008.