Rachel and Caleb Payne
Before proceeding to the magnificent gardens at the back of the Payne home, be sure to enjoy the lush evergreen shrub that borders the driveway, the perfectly crafted crabapple and numerous pots of bright annuals. The Paynes’ young daughter tells her parents she is going to visit the park when she decides to play in their backyard. A visit to the Payne gardens is indeed a visit to a tranquil and varied park that has a lot of history and heart. As you enter the gate on the west side of the home notice the Greeley Garden tour 2005 stone, that marks the date when Pearl Smith’s garden was on tour. She has since passed away but the Payne family fell in love with the ambiance of the gardens that Pearl and her late husband, Hub, created. That is except for the water bill! A free consult from the city of Greeley water department cut their monthly water bill of over $900 in half. The family is continuing to reduce their water bill, while re-imagining and enhancing the design that was created 10 years ago.
When you enter the back yard, to your right is an aspen mountain bed with three different kinds of dogwood. From this point you have a panoramic view of the tiered landscape that cascades to welcoming entertainment areas below. Before proceeding to the south side of the yard, enjoy the succulent garden to the west side,which is enhanced with sandstone rock and a variety of cactus.
The entertainment area complete with fire pit and raised beds is Rachel’s favorite spot to relax in the yard. This area is shaded by a Bur oak and a Kentucky coffee tree. As you continue through the yard you will be awed by the lush and towering willow tree that is one of the largest in Greeley. Take a few minutes for quiet reflection on the bench at the southeast corner of the yard to enjoy roses and peonies that hold the memories of the Smith family and their parents.
Follow the path that will return you to the back of the home. This path is adjacent to a forest of Japanese and corkbark pines as well as Korean fir. A dry creek bed behind the evergreens is adorned with gamma grass.
When you reach the top of the path in this special park enjoy a view of the fish swirling in the pond beneath the waterfall. Take a peek behind the barbecue at the herb gardens that are both fragrant and functional. As you exit the park, savor the peaceful sounds of the waterfall and woodsy smells mingling with the fragrance of herbs. Don’t miss the climbing euonymus, hydrangea and weeping green pea trees as you pass through the gate.
When you enter the back yard, to your right is an aspen mountain bed with three different kinds of dogwood. From this point you have a panoramic view of the tiered landscape that cascades to welcoming entertainment areas below. Before proceeding to the south side of the yard, enjoy the succulent garden to the west side,which is enhanced with sandstone rock and a variety of cactus.
The entertainment area complete with fire pit and raised beds is Rachel’s favorite spot to relax in the yard. This area is shaded by a Bur oak and a Kentucky coffee tree. As you continue through the yard you will be awed by the lush and towering willow tree that is one of the largest in Greeley. Take a few minutes for quiet reflection on the bench at the southeast corner of the yard to enjoy roses and peonies that hold the memories of the Smith family and their parents.
Follow the path that will return you to the back of the home. This path is adjacent to a forest of Japanese and corkbark pines as well as Korean fir. A dry creek bed behind the evergreens is adorned with gamma grass.
When you reach the top of the path in this special park enjoy a view of the fish swirling in the pond beneath the waterfall. Take a peek behind the barbecue at the herb gardens that are both fragrant and functional. As you exit the park, savor the peaceful sounds of the waterfall and woodsy smells mingling with the fragrance of herbs. Don’t miss the climbing euonymus, hydrangea and weeping green pea trees as you pass through the gate.