La Casa Contenta

About

Twenty five years ago, my partner and I moved from San Francisco to a Mediterranean Revival style home— already named La Casa Contenta—on a parkway in Denver. I was a beginner gardener, but studied plants and design at the Denver Botanic Gardens and the University of Colorado. Over the years, I have replaced much of the turf and a ’70s style swimming pool with garden beds. In the front, master rock designer Kenton Seth skillfully created crevice gardens, which look like miniature mountains rising out of the plains. I have filled the crevices with rock garden and alpine plants, which do well in the fast draining mixture of sand, gravel and soil between the crevices. The side garden is now lined with a row of mature Turkish filberts. The courtyard features a Russian hawthorn pruned in a Japanese cloud style, a Colorado sandstone patio for dining and a wisteria arbor. The courtyard is remarkably peaceful, despite its urban setting, and suits the Mediterranean style house well. As a former Californian, I have emphasized year-round interest in my Colorado garden. As a former Californian, I particularly appreciate the tulip show in the spring, since tulips do so much better in Denver than San Francisco.

This garden’s estimated size is 4,500 sq. ft.

2025 Open Day:  Saturday, May 24

Hours:10-4