Gardening, Xeriscaping, Etc.

Ruben and Joan's yard was selected by the Master Gardeners of Pueblo, Colorado and by the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District for public tours.  Their yard has been featured in the Pueblo Chieftain newspaper and NBC affiliate local television station KOAA - TV

The burl tree for the "Our Secret Garden" sign came from Alaska.  The Arbor was made from scrap weeping willow branches, and the pergola was made out of aged lumber from South Dakota

The Archuletas constructed this greenhouse/storage building.  It is insulated, has electrical power, an emergency generator and water supply

This view of the backyard shows the flowers, trees, cacti and the raised garden areas.  The pergola and fountain can be seen in the background

The trail winds through the raised garden areas and wild rose bushes behind the pergola.  Every moss rock in the garden was hauled from the hills

Colorful flowers and cacti cover one of the raised garden areas.  They are surrounded by aspen trees and evergreens.

Cacti, ground cover, and drought resistant flowers and bushes greet the morning sun in the Archuleta's front yard

The black hollyhocks in the foreground accent the white and yellow flowers  near the pine and aspen trees

Cacti and moss rock form the base for the flagpole erected by the Archuletas and Medal of Honor recipient, Drew Dix and his wife, Patricia.  Drew Dix, Ruben Archuleta and their wives have hauled many tons of moss rock from the hills

The pergola was constructed by Ruben and Joan from lumber that they hauled from South Dakota.  Joan's parents, Ralph and Louise Stuedeman saved the old, moss covered lumber from old corrals and pens on their farm.

Multi-colored flowers and decorative bark fill the raised flower garden bed

The concrete leaf fountain in the background was made by the Archuletas using rhubarb leaves for molds.

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A bleached bull's skull and cacti are nestled in the shade of a pinon tree