New native plant garden planned for Hot Springs County Courthouse

In the next couple of weeks, work will begin on a new native plant garden around the north entrance to the Hot Springs County Courthouse.

Last October, Les Culliton, County Maintenance Supervisor, approached the Red Dirt Master Gardeners to discuss ideas to improve landscaping around the main courthouse entrance. A subcommittee was formed, including Culliton and four Master Gardeners: Brian Strampe, Susan Blevins, John Fenton and Kim Bartlett.

The group pursued and obtained a grant from the Wyoming Native Plant Society, and received additional funds from the Red Dirt Master Gardeners and the County Commissioners. They have also secured several thousand dollars of in-kind donations for planning, drafting, landscape design, materials, and labor.

Subcommittee member Kim Bartlett said, “We are so pleased with the support we have received for this project, including from businesses in our community.”

The new garden will feature plants native to Wyoming, with a Thermopolis Bobcats purple and yellow color scheme. Bartlett explained, “We had several parameters we had to contend with, from the garden being north-facing with a low-light environment, to maximum plant height requirements so as to not block the windows or building cornerstones, to creating a more formal design that we hope will be aesthetically pleasing to most people.”

Most of the plant materials are perennials, and annuals will be reseeding. The gardens will be encircled by a rock wall and will include pavers and small seating areas created from natural objects.

“The idea was it could be a place people can rest and reflect, both for employees and the general public - especially persons called to testify in court proceedings.”

Native plants can take a while to come into their full beauty. Bartlett said, “There is a saying about native plants: the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap.”

Water requirements will be highest the first year, but by the third year, most of the plants should survive with only occasional supplementation. The garden will have a mixture of shrubs, grasses, and flowers, and more plants will be added in future years. Common and botanical plant names will be printed on metal plant markers for educational purposes.

The Red Dirt Master Gardeners have agreed to take responsibility for the continued maintenance of the garden. Construction on the project, beginning with the removal of the current plants, sod and edging is set to begin mid to late August. Hardscaping, such as building the rock wall and installing the pavers will be the next step.