Colorado on the Road 2025 was a three-night trip to Santa Fe coordinated with the Broadmoor Garden Club that took part in the Santa Fe Garden Club’s annual Behind Adobe Walls home and garden tours on July 22. This is the oldest and most prestigious garden tours of Santa Fe having started in 1940. Four houses are chosen each year and generously opened to garden lovers from all over the country. It starts with a tasty lunch at the Eldorado Hotel and then everyone boards hosted buses for the afternoon. It is a very well organized and run operation and the years of fine-tuning this event is evident!
The house tours took us to historic and contemporary homes, two in old town Santa Fe and two outside of town. They were all different and beautiful in their own way. One house had converted a tennis court to hold 20 raised beds growing the most gorgeous healthy and happy flowers, herbs, lettuces, vegetables and greenery. Another house had a stunning backyard with colorful flowers, sculpture and dramatic views of the mountains. The final house we saw was an artists whose work covered the walls and whose studio we have the pleasure of seeing. This was a fantastic afternoon getting access to these carefully curated homes and garden.
Both GCD and BGC enjoyed other activities starting with a demonstration cooking class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking. We watched and learned and ultimately ate what Chef Mary-Don whipped up which included a classic New Mexican corn soup using Georgia O’Keefe’s recipe from the 1970’s, green chile mole over chicken, calabacitas and for dessert delicious pinion, apple and green chile pie.
We also had a guided tour of the Museum of International Folk Art at Museum Hill which holds the largest collection of folk art in the world numbering more than 130,000 objects. Following that, we crossed the street to tour the Santa Fe Botanical Garden which is “nestled in a pinion-juniper woodland.” The gardens showcase its native plants and wild flowers, xeric gardens, a gorgeous orchard of fruit trees, a special art trail and more. It was a treat to be led by a very dedicated docent.
The Santa Fe Garden Club volunteers were not only organized but charming and welcoming and it was a pleasure to let them show off their beautiful town!
– Story by Suzanne M., photos by Suzanne M and Sarah A.
