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Landscape Master Plan
Niwot Fattoria
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
Client: Charlene VonSchlesien
Prepared Spring 2010
Sundew Design LLC
D e si g ne r :R ache l B e chho e fe r
THESE DRAWINGS ARE NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
Go a l s for a w orki ng farm
A Native Ecological Landscape
Plant species native to the Colorado foothills and the region that promote visual interest, beneficial wildlife, and require few inputs. Use plants that are drought tolerant and reduce runoff and erosion. Create a windbreak that resembles a native forest ecosystem. Cover the hillsides with a showy display of colorful native wildflowers and plants that are visible from the road and intersection.
A Productive Agricultural Landscape
Concepts
Zones of Use Fields of Color
INDEX of SHEETS
Existing Conditions
What is NIWOT FATTORIA?
Drainage Plan
Details
Grow produce, herbs, fruits, and nuts to feed residents with enough surplus to sell. Keep honeybees to produce honey and pollinate plants. Raise poultry and livestock for agricultural products and manure to build soil. Build a greenhouse to propagate crops and native plants for use on the site and for sale. Display the produce from the farm for visitors and passersby to see from the road.
Soils and Grading The Farmhouse: Plan View
A Supportive Social Landscape
Make the property an inviting home and an enjoyable place to live. Open the landscape up to the public, providing resources for children and adults to learn about native plants, edible landscapes, and organic agriculture. Preserve open space to bring an experience of the natural world amidst urban sprawl and maintain a pastoral agricultural landscape that is pleasing for people.
The Farmhouse: Sections
PLANTING
Plant Communities and Associations Phasing Phase I Planting Plan Phase II Planting Plan Phase III Planting Plan Views of Phase III Plant Lists
Resources
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
Zones of Use
This diagram is helpful to understand how the farm with be used and what types of plants will be placed where. The most frequented places are typically found closest to the dwelling. Less frequented, wilder places are further away or off the beaten paths. This diagram also divides zones into private areas for residents and areas open to the public.
Highway 52
North 79th Street
Zone IV Visited biweekly
Pond Fields and Meadows
Zone V Least Visited Monthly
To Boulder County Open Space
Forest Open Space
CONCEPTS:
Z O N ES O F U S E D IA GR AM
F HO ARM US E
IC VATE L I B PR PU
Zone III Visited weekly
Growing Field Orchard
Zone I Most Visited Zone II Visited everyday
Greenhouse Farmstand
1 or more times a day
Herb and Cutting Gardens Chicken Coop
To Boulder County Open Space
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
N
NOT TO SCALE
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
Berms and swales are used in conjunction to move, collect, and absorb water and onsite. This reduces surface flow runoff and protects natural waterways from sedimentation and pollution. Both elements allow for overflow and they direct water to desired locations. Overflow travels to existing drainage swales and streams. Build berms by making compost mounds, allowing them to turn into soil, and planting them when they reach the desired height. The uphill side of berms and the channels of swales can then be planted with plants that would require supplemental watering in other locations, as they will be able to access the extra water diverted to these elements. See planting plans.
BER M
K eep and use w ater on-si te to support pl ants and wildlif e.
Berms catch and divert water.
Sheet mulching is a method of intensive soil building that can contribute to weed abatement and build fertile topsoil in a more natural and cost-effective way than importing ready-made soil mixes. 1. First spring: Layer (any or all of the following) cardboard precomposted kitchen scraps brew mash leaves soil and/or manure woodchips
SWALE
STE P -BY-STE P Sheet Mulching
D E TA I L S : S o i l s a n d D r a i n a g e
BERM S & SWALES
Swales capture and infiltrate water.
2.Thru summer: Let it compost 3. Late summer: Seed a fall/winter cover crop, i.e. winter peas, winter barley, rye or triticale 4. Late fall: Mow the crop under and leave the cuttings over winter 5. Following spring: Plant gardens! TIPS Compost on location: Make small piles where you want berms, garden beds, or just need better soil.
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
Plan View
To Open Space
Wildflowers drape the hillside as one looks out from the rear deck. The orchard extends off to north, and transitions into the forest windbreak. A path winds through the woods from the farmhouse toward the growing field.
ORCHARD
H C
WINDBREAK
D E TA I L S :
Gardens Surrounding the Farmhouse
HERB GARDENS CUTTING GARDENS
Visitors approach the farmhouse from the northwest, where a large evergreen is surrounded by native shrubs and flowering plants. Low-grow grass and wildflowers fill in around the drive and house, while drought-tolerant evergreens screen the house.
N
Stone steps from the rear deck lead to a bridge over a dry creek and open onto the herb and cutting gardens.
NOT TO SCALE
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
Section Views
windbreak trees
Alternative 1
Cut the slope with a two-step retaining wall using boulders found on the property to create a terraced bed. The wall can serve as steps to reach the cutting garden or a low seating wall looking into the orchard.
D E TA I L S :
Gardens to the East of the Farmhouse
FARMHOUSE stone step
cutting garden fruit trees
deck with trellis
stone steps/ seat wall
SWALE
Alternative 2 fruit trees
potted planter
FARMHOUSE
Cut the slope with raised beds for herbs and showy flowers to create a terraced hillside. Paths between raised beds provide easy access for cutting herbs and flowers. Ledges provide seating or shelves for potted planters.
stone step
deck with trellis
SWALE
raised herb bed
path
raised cutting garden
LOOKING NORTHEAST
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
PL A N T I N G : C o m m u n i t i e s
PL AN T C OMMU N IT IE S & NATURAL ASSOCIATIONS In Colorado, patterns of native species and ecological communities are primarily determined by elevation, while solar aspect and moisture are secondary determinants. This diagram shows the primary native ecological regions that were drawn on for the landscape master plan and some of the key plant species that are central to each area.
High Mountains:
Rolling Foothills: Dry Plains:
Wetland Valleys:
Cottonwood Redtwig Dogwood Elderberry Serviceberry Cattails Little Bluestem Wetland Wildflowers
Cottonwood Honeylocust Hawthorne Chokecherry Currant Mockorange Sand Cherry Yucca Tall and Short Grasses Prairie Wildflowers
Pinyon Pine Juniper Burr Oak Aspen Maple Ash Mtn. Mahogany Currant Prairie Wildflowers
Ponderosa Pine Austrian Pine Blue Spruce Mtn. Mahogany Kinnikinnick Mtn. Wildflowers
7500-8500 ft.
6000-7500 ft.
5000-6000 ft.
Creating a Wildflower Meadow
~ 5000 ft. ~
1. Prep soil by sheet mulching and thoroughly weeding the area. 2. First season: Plant native wildflower seed.
Seed to the density recommended by seed supplier. Keep weeds at bay to allow seedlings to establish.
3. Fall planting after the first season: Transplant. Note naturally occurring clusters of plants and gaps and add more of native varieties to gaps near clusters to make larger clumps. This will encourage natives and particularly appealing plants. Larger clumps will provide a showy display.
4. Repeat step 3 after the second season, and subsequent seasons. Other varieties and plants should come up and add to clump diversity. Diligent weeding and periodic mowing are advised at all stages.
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
PL A N T I N G : P h a s i n g
P H A S IN G Pl a n ti ng a n d D evelopm ent Phasing the implementation of a landscape plan has a number of benefits. Plants can be purchased over the course of several years to minimize up-front costs. In addition to costs, phasing also minimizes up-front labor for planting and building, making it more realistic for the homeowner to do much of the work on her own. This also allows for work to be done by crews of coordinated volunteers who might only have one day to help out, but can focus on one area and complete a specific aspect of the plan. Phased planting can also be a way to mimic the natural process of succession whereby plants colonize an area. In the case of the windbreak, for example, it begins with a field, then shrubs and trees are added, and then greater density is added in the understory of maturing trees over the course of several years. Phases can be completed over subsequent growing seasons, or over longer periods of time.
Phase III The third phase is the realization of the master plan, adding larger elements and completing planting areas and beds. •
Build a greenhouse to propagate plants using seeds and cuttings found on the property.
•
Seed annual row crops each spring and extend the season by growing crops earlier in spring and later into the fall.
Phase II The second phase builds on the initial planting done in the first phase.
Phase I The first phase is about preparing and building soil that will support future planting. It is also about establishing plants to control runoff and prevent erosion. Sheet mulching, weeding, cover cropping, and composting are key components of this phase. •
Begin to create berms.
•
Begin planting meadows and wildflower areas, and differentiate planting areas.
•
Begin planting a windbreak to block cold northern and westerly winds. Plant quick growing trees and shrubs, such as aspen and cottonwood. Plant evergreen varieties for year-round screening.
•
Start ornamental beds to add interest to the property and begin to establish orchard trees to expedite fruit production.
•
Build a shed for the growing field area, bring in beehives, and start a small flock of chickens.
•
•
Continue to build soil and make compost for adding nutrients to gardens. Build the windbreak by mimicking forest succession on a shorter time scale, allowing small trees and shrubs to establish on the edges of existing tree lines.
•
Add to ornamental beds and planting areas, focusing on the entrance to the property, along the driveway, and surrounding the farmhouse.
•
Increase row crops and expand growing fields along the land contours.
•
Add to the flock of chickens and provide additional chicken coops or moveable tractors.
•
Incorporate more beehives to increase pollination of newer plants and to increase honey production.
•
Build a pond to add visual interest, wildlife habitat, and to hold more water on-site for plants and livestock.
•
Plant succulents such as yucca in open fields to more fully represent a natural system while creating a transition to the neighboring fields of open space.
On Plant Spacing Space plants according to their mature plant size guidelines. See plant lists. Trees- 20'-30' Shrubs- 10'-15' Perennials- 6"-3' Plant agricultural row crops fields on the contours of slopes. Space rows according to crop plant size, including rows for perennial crops, shrubs and annual crops.
On Paths
YEAR 3
Create and maintain mown paths through field, meadow, and wildflower areas. A small riding mower can provide a sufficient path width for walking and moving wheelbarrows. Paths through wooded areas can be mulch.
YEAR 2
Use steppable plants or mulch paths through formal beds.
YEAR 1 Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
VIEWS OF PHASE III
A
street street
swale berm pond berm pond
flowers
field
meadow
berm berm
field
field
berm
forest windbreak
forested windbreak
SECTION LOOKING NORTH A SECTION LOOKING NORTH
SECTION LOOKING NORTH
B
1 = 40 - 0 ll
A
A
l
ll
B
street
swale
road buffer
growing rows
flowers
drive swale
field
growing rows
B Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
farmhouse
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
orchard
flowers
SECTION LOOKING NORTHEAST
B
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
Botanical name
Variety
Type/Color
Height
Width
Sun/Shade
Water
Native?
sun
normal
x
sun
norm-dry
Notes
Trees Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa
Austrian Pine
Pinus nigra
40-60’
30-40’
Colorado Blue Spruce
Picea pungens
40-60’
20-30’
Pinyon Pine
Pinus edulis
x
Rocky Mtn. Juniper
Juniperus scopularum
x
Lance-leaf Cottonwood
Populus accuminata
sun
x
Cottonwood, Fremont’s
Populus fremontii
sun
x
Burr Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
Ash
Fraxinus
‘Cimmaron’ or ‘Marshall’
50-60’
30-50’
sun
normal
x
Honeylocust
Gleditsia triacanthos v. inermis
‘Skyline’
40-50’
30-35’
sun
normal-dry
x
Maple
Acer x freemanii
‘Autumn Blaze’
Golden Chaintree
Laburnum watereri
‘Vossii’
Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Crabapple
Malus spp.
Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn
Crataegus crusgalli x inermis
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
‘Canada Red’
Redtwig Dogwood
Cornus sericea (native)
Isanti’ or
Curl-leaf Mtn. Mahogany
Cerocarpus ledifolius
Purpleleaf Sand Cherry
Prunus x cistena
Serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia
‘Regent’
Sweet Mockorange
Philadelphus coronarius or lewisii
‘Cheyenne’
Spirea
Caryopteris x clandonensis
‘Blue Mist’
Flowering Quince
Chaenomeles speciosa
‘Texas Scarlet’
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
‘Mindea’ ‘Diabolo’ ‘Darts Gold’
Ninebark
Physocarpus monogynus
Currant
Ribes odoratum
‘Crandall Clove’
x
Currant
Ribes aureum
‘Gwen’s Buffalo’
x
Butterfly Bush
Buddleia alternifolia
to 100’
sun
x
nuts, lumber
quick growing
x
x ‘Prairie Fire’ ‘Radiant’ ‘Spring Snow’ white fl.
sun
normal
x
white flowers, fruit
sun
norm-dry
x
tolerates poor soils, fruit
norm-dry
x
fall color, fruit
15-25’
15-20’
20-30’
15-25’
6-10’
6-10’
sun-pt. shade
normal-moist
x
12-18’
8’
sun
normal-dry
x
PL A N T I N G : P l a n t L i s t s
Common Name
Shrubs
Symbol Legend for Planting Plans
*+
C
Succulent Ornamental Grass Chicken Coop
Path Garden Bed Deciduous Tree
Conifer
Juniper
Shrub
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
evergreen
x normal-dry
fragrant
peach-orange copper-purple-gold foliage
blue-violet
Grasses Sand Bluestem
Andropogon hallii
‘Goldstrike’ or ‘Garden’
x
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum (native)
‘Shenandoah’ (red-tip)
4-5’
18”
Sun
normal-dry
x
no deer
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium (native)
‘Blaze’
2-3’
15”
sun
normal-dry
x
any soil, winter color
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Prairie dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Northern Sea Oats
Chasmantheum latifolium
sun
grows in pine forests dry
24-36”
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
x
24-36”
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
Botanical name
Variety
Type/Color
Height
Width
Sun/Shade
Water
Native?
x
PL A N T I N G : P l a n t L i s t s
Common Name
Notes
Meadow Wildflowers Rocky Mtn. Bee plant
Cleome serrulata
pink-red
4-5’
sun
normal-dry
Hyssop
Agastache spp.
pink-
2-3’
sun
normal-dry
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
purple
30-36”
18-24”
sun
normal-dry
x
Coneflower
Echinacea spp.
Big Sky ‘Sunrise’
yellow
30-36”
18-24”
sun
normal-dry
x
Coneflower
Echinacea spp.
‘Art’s Pride’
orange
30-36”
18-24”
Sun
normal-dry
x
Black Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
yellow
18-24”
24”
sun
normal-dry
x
Mexican Hat
Ratibida columnifera
red+yellow
2-3’
sun
dry
x
Western Yarrow
Achillea lanulosa
white-yellow
12”
sun
normal-dry
x
Blue Flax
Linum perenne
blue
12”
sun
normal-dry
x
Narrowleaf Penstemon
Penstemon angustifolius
viole-bluet
8-12”
sun
dry
x
Palmer Penstemon
Penstemon palmeri
pale pink
12-15”
sun
dry
x
Rocky Mtn. Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
purple-blue
12-15”
sun
dry
x
Cardinal Penstemon
Penstemon cardinalis
red
12-15”
sun
dry
x
Blanketflower
Gallardia spp
red-orange-yell
12”
sun
normal-dry
x
Spotted Gayfeather
Liatris punctata
pink-purple
12”
sun
normal-dry
Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja spp.
orange-yellow
12”
dry
x
Evening primrose
Oenothera howardii
yellow, pink
12-15”
dry
x
Scarlet Globe Mallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
peach-orange
4-12”
sun
dry
x
‘Sapphire’
no deer
no deer
Wildflowers for Part Shade Columbine
Aquilegia spp.
‘Swallowtail’
yellow
24-36”
12-18”
shade-pt. sun
moderate
x
Columbine
Aquilegia caerulea
Rocky Mtn or Colorado Blue
blue+white
24-36”
12-18”
shade-pt. sun
moderate
x
12”
sun-pt. shade
dry
x
Groundcovers and Borders Bearberry/ Kinnikinnick
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Manzanita
Arctostaphylos
pink
1-4’
sun
dry
x
evergreen
Pussytoes
Antennaria parvifolia
white, pink
6”
sun
dry
x
bluish gray foliage
Iceplant
Delosperma spp
pink, yellow
4-6”
sun
dry
Sedum
Sedum spp
12”
sun
normal-dry
Bird’s Foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
‘Plenaflorus’
golden
4-6”
sun
dry
Coral Bells
Heuchera sanguinea
‘Firefly’
red
8-12”
12”
shade-pt. sun
normal-moist
Horehound
Ballota pseudodictamnus
also ‘Nana’
8-12”
12-18”
sun
dry
Germander
Teucrium aromatum
Veronica
Veronica spp.
‘Crystal River’
purple
sun
blue
sun
x steppable x gray foliage, good border smells like grape
Cutting Flowers
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
Rose of Sharon/Hibiscus
white, red
4’
Hollyhock
all
4-5’
white, other
2-3’
pink+yellow
2-3’
Snapdragons
Antirrhinum majus
Snapdragons
Antirrhinum majus
‘Dulcinea’s Heart’
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
Botanical name
Variety
Feverfew Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Cupid’s Dart
many
Type/Color
Height
white
12”
yellow-whitepurple
2-3’
Width
Sun/Shade
Water
sun-pt
normal-dry
sun
normal-dry
sun
normal-dry
sun-pt
normal-wet
sun
normal-dry
Native?
Notes
white, pink
Chocolate Flower
Berlanderia lyrata
yellow
18-24”
Black Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
yellow
18-24”
Delphinium
Delphinium spp.
blue
3-4’
pink, white
6-12”
Scabiosa
24”
6-12”
Herbs Rosemary
regular-dry
needs winter protection
Greek Oregano
regular-dry
perennia
Spearmint
regular
perennial
Lemon Balm
regular
perennial
Lavender
regular-dry
perennial
Sage
regular-dry
needs winter protection
Chamomile
regular
perennial
Dill
regular
annual
Lovage
regular
perennial
Calendula
regular
annual
Italian Parsley
regular-dry
perennial
Triple Curl Parsley
regular-dry
perennial
Cilantro
regular-dry
annual
Wheatgrass
regular
annual
regular-dry
perennial
regular-dry
annual
regular-dry
annual
regular
natural insecticide
regular
attracts good insects
Mexican Tarragon/Sweet Mace
Tagetes lucida
12-18”
Basil Tarahumara Chia
Salvia tiliafolia
4-6’
Marigold Sweet Cicely
3-4’
Comfrey
PL A N T I N G : P l a n t L i s t s
Common Name
nitrogen fixer
NOTES
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503
RESOURCES
We b So u r ce s Timberline Gardens, Arvada, CO High Country Gardens, Santa Fe, NM Pawnee Butte Seed Co., Greeley, CO Rocky Mountain Seed Co., Denver, CO Arkansas Valley Seed Co., Longmont, CO Boulder County, Colorado Colorado Materials, Inc., Longmont, CO Boulder County Extension, Boulder, CO
www.timberlinegardens.com www.highcountrygardens.com www.pawneebutteseed.com www.rockymountainseedco.com www.avseeds.com www.bouldercounty.org www.coloradomaterialsinc.com www.extension.colostate.edu/boulder/
Bo o ks Western Garden Book. Editor: Kathleen Norris Brenzel. Sunset Books, Inc. 2001. Rodale’s All New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Resource for Every Gardener. Editors: Fern Marshall Bradley, Barbara W. Ellis. Rodale Books. 1993. Xeriscape Plant Guide: 100 Waterwise Plants for Gardens and Landscapes. Denver Water. Fulcrum Publishing. 1996. Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms. Paul Stamets. Ten Speed Press. 2000. The Edible Forest Garden, Volumes I and II. Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier. Chelsea Green. 2005.
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
Niwot Fattoria
Landscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th Street Niwot, Colorado 80503