Stories, insights, and updates from the voices of Southwest Utah.

Tucked into the desert landscape, Joey and Zach’s garden offers a living example of what can emerge when creativity and stewardship grow side by side.

When you first arrive at Kolene’s home, you quickly realize this garden is unlike any other. Instead of lush flower beds or carefully planned borders, the landscape unfolds as a winding collection of stones - each one placed with intention, each one carrying its own story. Pathways of rock guide you through the space, leading past agaves, fruit trees, and unexpected treasures gathered from the surrounding desert.

Here in Brio, one backyard quietly breaks all the rules — and in doing so, creates its own kind of paradise. Officially dubbed “Tom and Deb’s National Recreation Area,” this nine-year-old garden proves just how much can be grown, enjoyed, and shared on a standard lot in Southern Utah’s challenging climate.

Some gardens begin with a carefully drawn plan. Frank’s garden began with curiosity. A longtime Southern Utah resident, Frank has always been fascinated by desert plants — the kinds that quietly thrive in the harsh beauty of the desert landscape. Over the years, he began experimenting with growing them himself, collecting seeds, propagating plants, and learning which varieties could adapt to the unique soils and climate of the region.