The Gardens at Home on the Range

Home on the Range, in keeping with its message of institutional sustainability, decided to landscape in a responsible, environmentally sensitive way, using the principles of Xeriscaping™.

Xeriscaping™ is a system that operates on several principles:

• Plan and Design
  • The landscaping at Home on the Range was planned from the start to incorporate more than 100 species in an attractive environment.


• Create Practical Turf Areas
  • The turf areas at home on the range are made with low-water use grasses, most of which are native, and are contained in size so as not to require too much water.


• Select Low Water Use Plants
  • Most plants at Home on the Range are designed to work in climates with rainfall similar to Billings.


• Use Soil Amendments
  • Our composting toilets produce rich compost which we will start to spread on our gardens once enough is collected. This closes the loop for fertilizing the soil and reduces our dependence on outside soil inputs.


• Use Mulches
  • Mulch cools plant root zones and reduces evaporation, and Home on the Range uses it around our flower beds.
  


• Irrigate Efficiently
  • Home on the Range uses drip irrigation for shrubs and flower and only uses sprinklers for the beginning growth of the lawn. Once a lawn is established, watering will be reduced and we will rely almost exclusively on drip irrigation.


• Maintain the Landscape Properly
  • Home on the Range is adamant in weed removal and maintenance of a healthy looking landscape.


• Educate!
  • Our plants are all labeled so that people can see what we are planting and possibly decide to plant it in their own garden!
  

The gardens at Home on the Range were planted by volunteer members with the oversight of Linda Iverson. The above walkway from the parking lot to the entrance of Home on the Range is a demonstration native garden; all plants are sourced from Montana and the Rocky Mountain region.