Everyman's edens: strolling garden paths surrounding Western states can lead to inspiration - includes related article on other estate escapes

Sunset, June, 1999 by Sally Stich, Jeff Phillips

Let's be honest. Sometimes the pleasure we derive from our backyards is diminished by the guilt we feel as we take in the scene. The unpruned peach tree, the weeds along the back fence, the bedding plants past their prime - all bear silent witness to a decided lack of gardening initiative. Instead of donning gloves and grabbing shears, we daydream about a glorious, self-maintaining garden, where weed-pulling is supervised from a hammock.

Though few of us will ever actually live in such an Eden, we can at least give substance to our fantasies by visiting one of the West's great estate gardens. As difficult as it may be to believe today, each of these historic gardens was once someone's backyard. And because of their residential (albeit often palatial) scale, there is no shortage of landscaping and planting ideas that could work in our own pieces of paradise. Inspired, we return home with intentions of hard work - that is, if we can get past the hammock.

LITTLETON, COLORADO

"Please do walk on the grass" reads the sign - an unexpected invitation in any public garden, but particularly symbolic in this 30-acre floral wonderland. Hudson Gardens, which opened in 1996, is the legacy of Colonel King Hudson, a retired army dentist and restaurateur, and his wife, Evelyn. Their home and restaurant are still on the property the couple nurtured for 46 years.

When King died in 1984, Evelyn established a foundation to enhance and protect the beautiful site. Upon Evelyn's death in 1988, the foundation decided to complete her mission by creating a garden where visitors could not only enjoy the beauty but also collect ideas for improving their own yards. Its opening on June 15, 1996, was so anticipated that more than 1,000 visitors braved a downpour to get in.

The garden is actually 16 different "rooms." Visitors meander from the Rose Garden, with its albas, noisettes, and hybrid rugosas, to the Wetlands, full of muskrats, frogs, and orioles - even red foxes.

The landscape is a far cry from its origins as the place where the Hudsons raised prize horses. What remains evident is the couple's belief that all of us are responsible for taking care of our own surroundings - both aesthetically and ecologically. Evelyn Hudson wanted Littleton to be "the most beautiful city possible." Her legacy - Hudson Gardens - is fulfilling that dream.

WHERE: 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, CO.

WHEN: 10-5 daily.

COST: $4, $3 ages 60 and over, $2 ages 6-12.

CONTACT: (303) 797-8565.

More estate escapes

Arizona

TUCSON. Tohono Chul Park: Encircled by development, this 48-acre oasis is a pointed reminder of the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Lunching at the Tea Room is a favorite local ritual. (520) 575-8468.

California

San Marino. Huntington Botanical Gardens: There's something for everyone on this 207-acre estate near downtown L.A. with 15 thematic collections, from a desert scene of cactus and succulents to Japanese and tropical rainforest gardens. (626) 405-2141.

Oregon

Portland. Leach Botanical Garden: This historic estate showcases both exotic imports and Pacific Northwest natives on 14 stunning acres. Look for blue penstemon and yellow wild buckwheat in the rock garden in June. (503) 761-9503.

Washington

Bainbridge island. Bloedel Reserve: Overlooking Puget Sound, the estate's Japanese garden is an island highlight; spectacular rhododendron displays should linger into June. (206) 842-7631.