Published in June, 2021, On the Roof of the Rocky Mountains combines captivating photography and descriptive writing to reveal the beauty and infinite grandeur of the land above the trees; a landscape that few visit, and even fewer inhabit. A behind-the-scenes tour of the Gardens immerses readers in a seasonal look at the unusual alpine specimens and horticultural favorites that are interspersed throughout the Gardens’ collections, from the frigid and barren peaks of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains to the more temperate alpine environments of South Africa, the Himalayas, the Caucasus Mountains, and beyond.
On the Roof of the Rocky Mountains establishes the Gardens as a must-see destination for visitors, a place known for its beautiful gardens, world-renowned plant collections, and its educational outreach. “While the focus of the book is Betty Ford Alpine Gardens,” says author Sarah Shaw, “it is also a celebration the global reach of the alpine ecosystem and the unique climate that supports and sustains the hardy plants and animals that inhabit it from pole to pole.”
A 12” x 12” hardcover book with 276 pages, On The Roof of The Rocky Mountains: The Botanical Legacy of Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Vail’s Alpine Treasure contains over 285 color photographs, an artistically-rendered map, and over 22,000 words, text, and captions. Retail price, $45. Available for sale at www.bettyfordalpinegardens.org and botanic garden gift shops and independent bookstores.
From the publishers of Architectural Digest and Bon Appetit magazines comes a book about discovery, observation, fulfillment, and their many lessons learned while building a home and settling in the Rocky Mountain West.
Living Beneath the Colorado Peaks, published in 2019, tells the fascinating story of the Knapps’ dedication to the design, history, conservation, and appreciation of the Rocky Mountain landscape. Photographer Todd Winslow Pierce’s rich imagery and writer Sarah Chase Shaw’s descriptive prose add dimension to the cultural and natural history of the region and its influence on the architecture, interior design, and landscape. Sprinkled throughout the book are indelible stories of the relationships forged between the Knapps and a cadre of craftspeople, designers, and builders, all of whom were dedicated to the integrity and the challenges of pursuing the historical building methods and artistry embedded in every detail. Ultimately, it’s the story of discovery, observation, fulfillment and self-sufficiency, and the many lessons learned throughout the process of building Knapp Ranch as it is today.
Living Beneath the Colorado Peaks: The Story of Knapp Ranch is an 11” x 13” hardcover book with 288 pages and over 200 photographs, drawings, maps, historical pictures and index. Retail price, $70. Available for sale from Knapp Ranch and independent booksellers.
The second of two residential garden books by Design Workshop, Inc, Garden Legacy, published in 2010, explores nine gardens in the Rocky Mountain West and desert southwest, weaving together images and words to paint a picture of a pattern language and design style that celebrates the beauty of the region. Inherent in the garden designs presented in this book is a celebration of outdoor living as a focus for the lifestyle of the intermountain West, an expression of art and craft, and a connection to the region’s magnificent natural environments. The first book, New Gardens of the American West, was published in 2004.
Images from On the Roof of the Rocky Mountains: The Botanical Legacy of Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. All photography by Todd Winslow Pierce. Upper left image by Dominique Taylor.
Images from Living Beneath the Colorado Peaks: The Story of Knapp Ranch. All photography by Todd Winslow Pierce.
