Subdivision: Anasazi Trails
Owner/ Designer: Chris and Irina Castelot
Garden Type or Features: This garden features are well planned and constructed landscape with the use of native plants, all of which blend into the exterior natural environment.
Artist in the Garden: Alex Athens.
Description:
Eight years ago, Irina and Chris left the lush landscapes of New Hampshire for a new life in sunny New Mexico, settling in the quiet village of Placitas beneath the ever-changing beauty of the Sandia Mountains. Our newly built home sat on a raw, windswept lot of tumbleweed and Chamisa, which the owners gradually transformed into a welcoming garden with the help of designer Oddie Brown.
The property is now divided into four distinct garden areas. The north-west facing front yard features evergreens such as juniper, mock orange, hawthorn, and ivy for year-round structure, along with seasonal color from crape myrtle, zinnias, and coleus. Fragrant honeysuckle greets visitors at the gate, while roses, mint, and chrysanthemums add color and delicate fragrance.
Along the courtyard fence line, there are low-growing juniper, lavender, and other flowering plants which create a soft, layered landscape that attracts pollinators. The north-facing landscape, also designed by Oddie Brown, blends curb appeal with the natural environment. A sandstone wall creates two levels, while a river rock drainage feature directs rainfall away from the property to the culvert. Though one original Pagoda tree was lost, one seedling remains, and Ray Ash and Pinion trees continue to thrive. The lower-level features evergreens like Mugo Pine and native juniper, along with a trumpet vine that will add beauty and attract hummingbirds.
Below, coreopsis provides long-lasting color and draws pollinators. A desert willow now replaces a struggling abelia, joined by German thyme, Russian sage, and Autumn Sage – creating a vibrant, drought-tolerant garden that supports bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
The east-facing garden is a standout feature, offering sweeping, unobstructed views of the northern Sandia Mountains – from rugged granite cliffs to forested slopes and lush summer aspen groves.
A patio designed by Oddie Brown is perfectly positioned to capture these vistas, framed by evergreen plantings including arborvitae and Blue Point juniper. A thriving pomegranate tree adds character and charm.
Nearby, a large ash tree provides shade over a vibrant mix of pollinator-friendly plants such as Autumn sage, Salvia, Catnip, Russian sage, and Germander, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. The Bird of paradise and santolina add long-lasting color and drought-tolerant beauty.
An elevated ridge bordered by sandstone features native, water-wise plants including Apache plume, Opuntia, New Mexico olive, Coyote bush, Juniper, and Desert Willow – celebrating the resilience and elegance of the high desert landscape.
The south-facing side of the property endures intense Southwestern sun, so this landscape was designed to thrive without irrigation. Two sandstone-framed cactus beds – featuring native opuntia, cholla, and yucca—anchor the space, with naturally seeded desert plants adding a wild, evolving feel.
A sandstone bench offers a perfect sunset view, reached by a naturalistic stone path lined with ocotillo, whose red blooms attract hummingbirds. Seasonal color comes from blooming cacti, yucca, and agave, while a playful stone feature provides a habitat for lizards.
Below, a path leads to a raised bed with climbing plants and seasonal vines like Moonflower. The area, once prone to erosion, has been stabilized with stonework and native plantings that anchor the soil.
Drought-tolerant borders of Lavender, Nepeta, and Russian sage soften the path to a vibrant hummingbird garden.
What was once an untamed desert lot has become a collection of inviting garden spaces, reflecting both the resilience of the high desert and the owners’ love of cultivating beauty.
