About this book
Overview
"On the Roof of the Rocky Mountains celebrates the botanical legacy of internationally acclaimed Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the highest botanical garden in North America, situated in Vail, Colorado. Presenting the Gardens' story in five chapters, the book traces its four-decade evolution from pocket-sized demonstration plot to esteemed public botanical garden named in honor of First Lady Betty Ford. A tour of alpine environments around the world immerses readers in the secrets of survival in the land above the trees. Text by author Sarah Chase Shaw and photographs by renowned nature photographers illustrate the beauty, severity, and exotic features of the plants, animals and landscapes that inhabit this harsh and unforgiving environment. The Gardens come to life in a delightful and intimate photographic tour of the Gardens unique plant collections. Illuminating text, accompanied by stunning photographic close-ups highlight the crystalline beauty of beloved alpine species including edelweiss, Alpine pinks, and jewel-like white gentian from the European Alps; the giant bellflower, a native of the Central Asian mountains; the exotic and highly anticipated Himalayan prickly blue poppy; and, a collection of opulent specimens from the mountains of South Africa. Guest essays by well-known botanical experts including Panayoti Kelaidis, Peter Raven, and Sara Oldfield add credence to the Gardens' well-deserved reputation for pairing people with plants in a setting that inspires both curiosity and an innate desire to nurture the beauty and fragility of our natural world. On the Roof of the Rocky Mountains establishes Betty Ford Alpine Gardens as both a must-see botanical garden and a leader in North American alpine plant conservation"--
