The Owyhee Mountains are located in high altitude Intermountain desert where sagebrush and lava rock are aplenty. It is a rugged area and you can tell this by taking a quick visual scan of the landscape. 
The fortitude of the region gives a big clue as to rigor of the climate and the lifestyle. You have to be tough to live here whether person, animal or plant!
The aura of the western frontiersmen still feels strong here. Horses reign, cattle are abundant and cowboys and cowgirls live a good life. However, despite all of this rough-hewn scenery there is another type living in these mountains. A gardening type…in fact a gardener extraordinaire!
Carol, the gardener extraordinaire, has staked her ground at almost five thousand feet of elevation.
She has created a most beautiful garden surrounding her home that serves as a visual oasis for all passers-by. It is not uncommon for someone to stop in just to comment on her lovely gardens. And it’s interesting to note that in this rugged, masculine environment, it is usually men that comment on her garden’s beauty.
She works tirelessly year after year creating gorgeous garden beds all the while battling wind, late season frosts, hail storms, ultra-dry air, rodents, cow dogs and rattlesnakes! Not only does this gardener have to decide which plant will work where but also has to make sure a dog won’t make a bed out of it or that a rattlesnake isn’t under it once it gets growing! Remember, you gotta be tough!
Carol’s gardening season is a short three months (maximum 100 days) in a USDA Zone 4, Sunset Zone 1A climate. These parameters mean the winter lows average 0°-11° and extremes can range from -25° to -40° not counting wind chill. When the heat comes on it shoots up quickly and can sometimes stay in the 90’s for a significant part of the growing season.
Carol’s watering system which is very important for those couple of months of hot weather consists of hoses and a few old-style sprinklers. Nothing automatic in this neck of the woods!
The upside to a high-desert garden? You know there always is one…the air is fresh and clear and the water clean with good minerals. Plus the soil is fertile and if given a chance plants like to grow here!
Take a tour of Carol’s garden with me. Here are some of my all-time favorite shots with an extended gallery below.
Carol is one of the most inspirational gardeners I’ve had a chance to know. Her passion combined with admirable traits such as tenacity, dedication, patience, hope, humour and forgiveness have enabled her to create a luscious plot in this untamed, wild west kingdom. Carol knows what it takes to get something to grow strong in some of the most unpredictable, ever-changing environments.
You may wonder how I know Carol exercised all of these traits to grow her garden…Well, that’s easy… for you see she also exercised them growing her family… Carol is my mom! Happy Wild Owyhee Mountain Gardening Mom!
igardendaily 
Wow , Andrea, I am trying to graciously accept all your wonderful compliments….and also to admit that your expertise in photography definitley enhanced my garden photos.Thank you so much for this posting and may I say that much of what I have learned gardening has come from you.
Love, Mom
Brilliant photos! The colors from the flowers jump out at you. Great post!
Thanks so much for stopping by….I know you are extremely busy with all of your writing, blogs, children and fund raising efforts. You are amazing!
What a beautiful colorful garden! Variety of plants is impressive. I love the stone path especially, and the tulips, clematis, etc. Your Mom created a very special place. Thank you Andrea!
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting on my mom’s garden. I still have the picture of your amazing hummingbird photos in my head!!
This posting has brought tears to my eyes for how wonderful it was written, the photos and of course, how amazing my mom’s inner beauty is displayed through what the earth has to offer!!!!
Amazing!! The garden, the gardener, the photos, and the writing! Carol, your garden just keeps getting more and more beautiful! The choices and combinations of plants are really inspirational. And Andrea, your photos are works of art — so impressive. This post was such a nice way to start my Sunday — thank you! 🙂
Thank you so much Karen for your gracious comments. Glad you got a good start to Sunday and hope it just got better and better…I can’t wait to hear about your fabulous Alaskan experiences…
Andrea, your Mom is an ispirational gardener! I hope she realises that. I am sitting here gawping at the photos and amazed at what she has created. When I saw the first photos I was thinking … “hmm, nice scenery, I hope there’s more interesting pics to come”… and then BAM! You hit me with a wonderland of plants and flowers and colour combinations! Absolutely stunning, if I ever make it to your Mom’s neck of the woods I too will stop and admire what I consider one of the most beautiful gardens I’ve seen in a while!
Thanks so much Christina for all of your kind comments…I hope too that she knows she is an inspirational gardener. It is so nice of you to comment in this way about her garden.
Reminds me of my mother also. A real trooper, and lives in Wyoming.
That’s for sure! Thanks so much for stopping by…:)
What a beautiful garden! I’m not surprised that passers by stop to take a look. She seems to make the very most of her short gardening season. I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog, and will be back for sure. Thanks for visiting mine!
Catherine, THANK-YOU SO MUCH for stopping by and commenting… I love your blog and try to keep up with everything you are doing. Your garden is amazing and I love remembering the Pacific Northwest through certain blogs, yours is one. I used to live there and miss it very much… Thanks again.
Hello Andrea, this is a really interesting post with a very nice personal touch at the end. Thanks for your comments on my alphabet.
Thank you! …for stopping by my blog. I look forward to seeing more of your illustrations…
What a wonderful tribute to your Mom, Andrea! She does have a beautiful garden in one of the most challenging environments.
So glad I chanced upon this post, such an amazing garden with such a range of conditions. Very inspiring.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for stopping by!
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OK, We are going there in May. I’ll drive.