From Colorado to Idaho, people aren’t just planting gardens anymore. They’re creating landscapes that reflect the scenic terrain of the mountain West while making the best use of limited space, time, and water. On these pages, two gardens illustrate this trend in very different but equally effective ways.

The first, in Colorado’s Vail Valley, evokes the feeling of a classic alpine panorama. There, gentle waterfalls feed a stream that pools by a tiny, inviting patch of meadow. Sprays of wildflowers color the slopes of the steep high-country lot. The second garden, in Boise, blends colorful foliage plants and flea market finds to create a cozy and comfortable outdoor living room on a compact lot. Both are perfectly suited to their sites yet contain plenty of ideas to adapt in your own garden.

Mountain style

Trees come first. Before planting anything, decide where to locate trees. Placed near outdoor living areas, their canopies can serve as a leafy “ceiling” and give the space a cozy feel. Choose ones that are especially at home in the mountains. Aspens are tough to beat for fall color, and conifers add structure in winter.

Incorporate stone. Use boulders and stone walls to marry the garden to the surrounding mountains.

Go wild with water. Good waterfalls and pools mimic the look of those found in nature. Let rocks hang over the water in some places, as they would in a stream.

Merge gardens with the forest. For the most natural effects and easiest maintenance, use predominantly native plants. Group shrubs of various heights and foliage colors beneath trees, and leave open, grassy areas to mimic meadows.

Plan a natural transition. At the outer edges of the property, plantings should be large, bold swaths of a single variety. As you go farther from the house, plant ever-larger trees and place bigger rocks to match the natural landscape.

Pave naturally. Choose earthy materials. Stone offers enduring elegance; pea gravel provides an informal surface with a gritty texture; wood decking is sleek and clean.

Weave in evergreens. Rely on evergreen shrubs for year-round color. In winter, broad-leafed evergreens and small conifers provide a dramatic contrast to bare-stemmed deciduous trees and shrubs.