Join us in Creating the David Salman Tribute Garden
Together with friends and family, the Santa Fe Botanical Garden is creating the David Salman Tribute Garden. Lauren Springer, will be designing and planting the garden featuring many of David’s noteworthy plant introductions. Join us in this exciting project to honor David Salman and his contribution to horticulture.
Founder of Santa Fe Greenhouses, High Country Gardens, and Waterwise Gardening, David Salman was a pioneer of sustainable gardening, passionate plant explorer, and charismatic storyteller. His commitment to cultivating a palette of beautiful waterwise plants transformed gardening in the American West.
Nearly 600 total plants comprise the plantings in the David Salman Tribute Garden
The plants represent many species and cultivars that David championed and introduced to the gardening world. This garden has been a labor of love by many people, from inception through preparation and final planting. The SFBG is honored and thrilled to offer this public space representing David Salman and his knowledge and enthusiasm for waterwise gardening, plants in all their beautiful variations, and really for all life.
Saturday, November 9th, Lauren Springer will be back down in Santa Fe for a presentation on her own landscape design work, plants, and the Tribute Garden!
When: Saturday, November 9th, 2024
- 10:00 am Coffee and chat
- 10:30 -11:30 am presentation
Where: Christ Church of Santa Fe, 1213 Don Gaspar Avenue (At Cordova Road), Santa Fe, NM 87505
Thank you to Santa Fe Garden Club for generously supporting this program.
Read more about the timeline of the Garden
September 12-14, 2024
Lauren and colleague Patrick Kirwin (who assisted with succulents planting in July) spent Friday laying out perennials and shrubs. Lauren did not work from a drawn design to place the hundreds of plants, but relied on her extensive knowledge of plants and their habits to hand-place every plant in the garden.
Lauren, Patrick, Linda Churchill and Noah Gapsis, a group of dedicated Master Gardeners, and several friends and colleagues of David Salman’s came together in shifts to plant approximately 370 plants in the Tribute Garden and nearby pots. We were very happy to also welcome Ava Salman as part of the planting crew.
Early September 2024
SFBG received a shipment of plants from High Country Gardens in early September, and Lauren Springer arrived at SFBG on Thursday, September 12th with a van-load of additional plants to complete the David Salman Tribute Garden planting.
July 23rd, 2024
Lauren Springer arrived in Santa Fe in late July with a van full of cacti and succulents, to plant the first phase of the David Salman Tribute Garden at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden. Lauren and colleague Patrick Kirwin, with support from Linda Churchill and Noah Gapsis of SFBG spent three hot days laying out plants and planting among the new rock terrace and boulders installed by John Morris of New Mexico Stone. They even found time to shop for beautiful pots to fill out the Tribute Garden patio space. Plantings will continue in September, with projected garden completion date (after irrigation and mulching) of early October.
Lauren Springer at SFBG in July 2024. Photos by Michael Hoffman and Patrick Kirwin.
July 9th, 2024 – Revamping the Xeric “Hot Box”
In anticipation of adding a new collection of hardy cacti that will include many of David Salman’s cactus introductions, existing cacti in the Xeric Garden “Hot Box” were transplanted out or moved to pots for later planting. John Morris created a new rock terrace in the largest interior bed of the “Hot Box” to raise the cacti up for a more attractive setting and a better microclimate. Stop by and get a glimpse of the fabulous new rock terrace!
June 14th, 2024 – John Morris and his crew and SFBG volunteer Gary Donato carefully place the large boulders as Linda and Horticulture Assistant Noah Gapsis look on. Thank you John and team! (Photo: Lynn Walters)
April 19, 2024 – Designers Lauren Springer and Patrick Kirwin, distinguished stone mason and creator of SFBG’s stone architecture John Morris, and SFBG Horticulture Director Linda Churchill meet on site to discuss the next steps in design and installation of the David Salman Tribute Garden.
March 7th, 2024
Preparation of the site began with clearing the existing groundcover, gravel mulch, and select plant removals. We’ll be working with Benz Landscaping Biz (Ben Wheelan), on installing the irrigation for this zone.
Crew at work in xeric garden
Salvaging beavertail pricklypear (Opuntia aurea).
Checking irrigation lines
Discussing Irrigation
Linda Churchill, Horticulture Director, and Ben Wheela, owner of Benz Landscaping.
Site preparation for David Salman Tribute Garden.
Protected trough of salvaged plants.
Tribute Garden by Acclaimed Designer, Lauren Springer
Lauren Springer designs public and private plantings, including the WaterSmart Garden and Romantic Gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens, the Visitor’s Center native plantings at Chatfield Farms, and the Undaunted Garden and south hellstrip at the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins. She has written five books, including The Undaunted Garden and Plant-Driven Design. A pioneering designer of waterwise landscapes, she also seeks to create beauty and diversity with wildlife function. This commitment resulted in Audubon Society Habitat Hero designation for four of her design projects.
