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It always starts out as such a good idea. A redesigned home is the fulfillment of dreams. That new raised bed vegetable garden is perfection. A few decades ago, the channelization of creeks and rivers seemed so smart to manage flood-prone areas.

Time marches along, and in no time at all we realize that something just isn’t quite right anymore. Old wisdom gives way to new ideas, different elements break down, and some decisions leave us wondering what on earth we were thinking.

Such is the way of the ongoing dance of best intentions and the irresistible force of nature. At the Gardens, we learn new lessons every year and are now increasingly focused on restoration – working with what still exists from days past to replenish a collection of life that truly belongs here. At Chatfield Farms, our teams have been restoring the riparian zone along Deer Creek and prairie areas on the south and central parts of the site.

After years of manipulation for either agricultural or aesthetic reasons, it is amazing to watch the transformation take place when invasive species are replaced with native and native-adapted plants. There are many small miracles. The new/old landscape is immediately beautiful, with life suddenly back in concert with the environment that nurtures it. With appropriate plants flourishing, there is little need for heavy maintenance and no irrigation required.

Metallically adorned native bees reappear, birds make a big comeback. Everything from butterflies to white-tailed deer frolic in spaces that are once again familiar to their origins.

The greatest miracle of all with such work is how quickly things shift. Within a year, the difference can be dramatic. My favorite realization about the process of restoration is that the symphony of air and water changes to something that grabs hold of your DNA and connects directly to those rare moments we have spent in truly wild spaces.

So, we march bravely into the future. As is mostly the case, our motivations are economic and societal. We must make better use of resources to protect quality of life and long-term sustainability. The good news is that we can do the work of restoration with the realization of abundance rather than scarcity.

It is happening right now. Visit any of our four sites to get a glimpse. Or learn about our Sustainable Landscape Services to see how we are partnering with communities and organizations all around Colorado.

Better yet, become part of the movement in your own backyard.

The winter issue of Inside the Gardens is out now. Read it today.

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