La Posada Hotel

Spring Gardens Report

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:52:24 GMT

Spring is Here-the Gardens Are Waking Up!

Happy Spring and welcome to the Gardens! After a dormant winter, the gardens are beginning to sprout, leaf out, and bloom. Our last official freeze date is May the 3rd, we’re gently peeling back the leaves as we uncover tender shoots and buds. Thank you for your patience as we work on bringing the gardens back to life.

What’s happening now?

The crew has resumed seasonal maintenance and care, including:

Sweeping, raking, pruning, and weeding
De thatching, aeration and fertilization of lawn areas
Watering and planting cool weather crops
Seeding and bulb planting

We’re also tackling weeds and an invasive species called Wild mustard (rocket) which has been spreading quickly and is a threat to our native plants; the crew has already filled an industrial-sized dumpster with pulled weeds and debris in less than a week, phew!

What’s Blooming Right Now?

Look for early spring colors near the hotel entrance and throughout the grounds: The Half-Moon, Entry, Peace and Pollinator Gardens are beginning to put on a show with Daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths, well as Dwarf Peach, lilac and rosemary.

Fruit Trees, Deciduous Trees and Shrubs

Visit the Orchard in the southwest corner, Tina’s Garden, the Chef’s beds and historic Quince garden- many trees are starting to bloom, can you spot: apple, peach, Mormon apricot, Bing cherry, plum, pear and quince? You’ll also spy blooming wax and black currant bushes in the Cottonwood lawn area and sprinkled throughout the grounds.Some other shrubs and trees that are starting to leaf out are: Flycatcher honeysuckle, Fremont Cottonwood, Marshall seedless ash, Spirea, snowball bush and a variety of roses. Keep an eye out for nesting birds.

Thanks, Team!

A huge shoutout to: Kavion, Kalup, Jeremy, Jason J, and Jason D. They work hard to keep up with the grounds and daily tasks. We appreciate all of you!

As always, feel free to stop and say hello when you see us in the gardens. We’d love to chat with you and hear about your garden and answer any questions. Please share a corny joke, we love those too! Feel free to pick up a Garden map and guide at the front desk.

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

-Audrey Hepburn

Winter Newsletter

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:56:51 GMT

Click the image below to read our Winter Newsletter!

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Winter Garden Report

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:55:02 GMT

The Winter/Solstice Garden Report

Winter has settled over La Posada Hotel and Gardens, bringing a quiet apricity to the landscape and a welcome pause in the year's gardening cycle. While the grounds rest under the crisp winter air, our team is preparing and planning for

another bountiful year.

Beauty in Stillness

Winter reveals the timeless structure of the Gardens-the elegant lines, sculptural plantings, and architecture designed by Mary Colter and added to and enhanced by the vision of Allan Affeldt and Christy TenEyck (2006-2008) Take a stroll to the Southwest corner of the hotel, down the pathway and past the Wishing Well, for an unobstructed view of the property in all directions.

Route 66 Native Plants Garden

The Saltbush, Apache Plume, Banana Yucca, Agave, Juniper, Texas Live Oak and Cypress in this area provide contrast to the blue winter sky and highlight the sandstone wall which mostly surrounds the property. This hardy Xeric habitat is irrigated sparingly, relying on drip and bubbler systems.This native area provides seeds and shelter for critters throughout the year.

Sunken Garden

This is Mary Colter's most formal garden, and the warmest microclimate on the property. The Cypress trees surrounding this area, along with the Ivy, Spirea and honeysuckle enhances the architecture in this Mediterranean Garden. Look for early blooming bulbs in the beds (Irises, Crocuses and Snowdrops), and cool weather crops like: parsley, sage, beets, kale, and Swiss chard to still be green in the Patio pots. This warm and sunny spot is a great place to relax and enjoy a hot cuppa, or treat from the Turquoise Room!

North Walkway and Tres Amigos

This Northern exposed walkway receives little sunshine, though shrubs like Boxwood, Rosemary and Salvia, as well as Flycatcher Honeysuckle, Goodwin's Willow, Apache Plume, Sumac, Desert Four O' Clock and Fremont Cottonwood offer beautiful shapes as well as shelter for the birds. Keep an eye out for nests of all sizes, especially the tiny hummingbird nests! Be sure to look and listen for raptors in this area too.

Looking Forward to Spring

Ordering Summer blooming bulbs for Spring planting
Planning crops and ordering seeds for the raised beds, Chef's beds, and Milpa
Fertilizing all
Pruning
Landscaping projects: pathways, patios, seating and repair

Winter's Past

We can’t wait to see the gardens trimmed with snow. La Posada usually catches a few storms in late January thru March. Take a look at this photo, flashing back to a 2021 winter storm.

Thank you!

We appreciate your continued interest in our historic Gardens. If you see us vorking in the Gardens, feel free to say hello and ask questions, or tell us about your garden! Winter may be a time for dormancy, but it is also time to prepare, a reminder that while the Gardens are resting, we're busy strategizing and getting ready for 2026. We looking forward to welcoming you back as the seasons turn

and the Gardens reawaken.

September Garden Report

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 17:19:00 GMT

Welcome to the Gardens, or welcome back! After a long, hot, dry summer, Fall’s crisp air will be a welcome respite. Fall is a busy time in the Gardens, look for the crew to be: harvesting, fertilizing, planting, pruning, prepping and decorating.

What’s Up?

While strolling the grounds remember to look up and note the colorful display of Autumn leaves. Some of La Posada’s deciduous trees include: Arizona Ash, Fremont Cottonwood, Raywood Ash, Crabapple, Quince, Mulberry, White Poplar, Goodwin’s Willow, Desert Willow, and variety of Locust trees.

What’s coming?

Cooler temperatures make for a good time to get some planting done. This is typically when we install most of our trees, shrubs and perennials. Verde River Growers, a nursery in Cottonwood, will be making a delivery at the end of September, it will take the entire crew and a backhoe to plant roughly thirty trees and shrubs. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s included in the order: Lilac, Woods Rose, Chaste, Mesquite, Locust, Desert Willow, Arizona Ash, Apple, Cherry, and Rosemary to name a few. Let the planting begin!

Dig it!

Another activity that we look forward to is bulb planting. Every Autumn hundreds of bulbs are planted in pots, beds, pathways and under trees. The pop of color in the Spring will be a beautiful sign of the Gardens reawakening. Onion, garlic, chives, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and snow drops to name a few. Look for the “seed fairies,” or garden’s crew, scattering seeds across the property.

Preparing for Winter

We’ve been enjoying the Fall blooms and harvesting of La Posada’s bounty for the Turquoise Room, but as we get closer to the first frost date, it’s time to prepare the Gardens for the winter. Here’s a look at our to do list, as always feel free to stop and ask the crew questions about the Gardens, or you can leave your questions and contact info at the front desk and I’ll get back to you.

Harvest apples, pears, Quince, Amaranth, tomatoes, peppers, squash and herbs.
Decorate for Fall and Halloween.
Fertilize, compost and mulch.
Leave the leaves as mulch, water retention and for the critters.
Prune, arborist for the big jobs.
Cleanup and cutback pots, shrubs and pathways.
Blow out irrigation.
Maintain equipment.

And more, whew!

La Posada Hotel

Spring Gardens Report

Spring is Here-the Gardens Are Waking Up!

What’s happening now?

What’s Blooming Right Now?

Fruit Trees, Deciduous Trees and Shrubs

Thanks, Team!

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

-Audrey Hepburn

Winter Newsletter

Click the image below to read our Winter Newsletter!

Winter Garden Report

The Winter/Solstice Garden Report

Beauty in Stillness

Route 66 Native Plants Garden

Sunken Garden

North Walkway and Tres Amigos

Looking Forward to Spring

Winter's Past

Thank you!

September Garden Report

What’s Up?

What’s coming?

Dig it!

Preparing for Winter

Enjoy the Gardens, may they give you inner peas, good chives, and may you keep calm and carrot on!

New Title

Summer 2025 Newsletter

June ’25 Garden Report

La Posada Hotel

Spring Gardens Report

Spring is Here-the Gardens Are Waking Up! ﻿

What’s happening now?

What’s Blooming Right Now? ﻿

Fruit Trees, Deciduous Trees and Shrubs ﻿

Thanks, Team! ﻿

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

﻿ -Audrey Hepburn

Winter Newsletter

Click the image below to read our Winter Newsletter!

Winter Garden Report

The Winter/Solstice Garden Report

Beauty in Stillness

Route 66 Native Plants Garden

Sunken Garden

North Walkway and Tres Amigos

Looking Forward to Spring

Winter's Past ﻿

Thank you!

September Garden Report

What’s Up?

What’s coming?

Dig it!

Preparing for Winter

Enjoy the Gardens, may they give you inner peas, good chives, and may you keep calm and carrot on!

New Title

Summer 2025 Newsletter

June ’25 Garden Report

Spring is Here-the Gardens Are Waking Up!

What’s Blooming Right Now?

Fruit Trees, Deciduous Trees and Shrubs

Thanks, Team!

-Audrey Hepburn

Winter's Past