The gardens
of Vaudeth Oberlander
Rapid City, South Dakota
My gardens are on an acre
of land in the Black Hills of South Dakota four and
a half miles west of Rapid City on Nemo Road in South
Canyon Country Estates.
The photos above are from my first perennial garden
which is five years old.
I am currently working on a large xeriscape garden.
This is its first year.
I began vegetable gardening in southwestern North Dakota
43 years ago when I was first married. When we moved
to the Rapid City area 22 years ago, I started with
a large vegetable garden about 40 x 60 feet. Of course
I had the requisite flower beds around our home.
Five years ago Linda Swan, an landscape designer in
Rapid City designed my perennial garden which measures
about 12 x 60 feet. Originally this was to be a low
water garden but in my enthusiasm to try every plant
I saw, it became more a moderate water garden. Currently
I have about 200 varieties of perennials which include
grasses and shrubs. The original River Birch trees enclosing
Red Twig Dogwood still stand and lend winter interest.
I also have several dwarf Blue Spruce of various kinds
as well as the grasses to keep me happy in winter. Our
growing season here is only about five months long so
I have lots of down time to plan.
Last year I started a xeriscape garden about 20x 40
feet. The paths are rocks we got at a quarry north of
Rapid City. Arbor 60 percent of the area is pathways
and gravel. I have planted right into the gravel. In
addition I have three flour beds along the foundation
of the house and one bordering the north side of the
garden. My husband built a gazebo and pergola out of
rough hewn posts and the railing is river birch. This
summer we were forced to install a deer fence around
all our gardens. The woven wood fence encloses the vegetable
garden. I have planted many xeric species of perennials,
grasses and bushes this year and am anxiously awaiting
spring 2004 to see what survives. This year I filled
in with lots of annuals so I'd have color and interest
for the summer. Wave petunias have been a wonderful
fill-in plant. My goal is to have the plants survive
and thrive on one inch of water a month.
