In June of 2003, I bought a hotel in Las Cruces NM. Little effort had been made in the grounds or garden and I saw this as an opportunity to compliment renovations done inside the hotel, with a major makeover outside. The property comprises a street front, courtyard and miscellaneous corner gardens and what follows is a description of what was done in each section.
Street Front
The street front was largely dirt with some patches of hardy grass and an old fish pond that had been filled. We eliminated the grass, replacing it with rock and desert plants. A new fountain was placed as both a feature and provide the relaxing sound of running water (before and after).
Courtyard
The courtyard was dominated by a large, deep pool that needed repair. It was decided to abandon it and build another at the other end of the courtyard, so that it would be visible through the lobby. With the pool placed, a path and ramada then framed the remainder of the garden, which was infilled with plants and two barbeques were added. Again, water features were added to improve the ambiance.
Eastern Side
On the eastern side of the property, an old staircase was demolished and an Australian Garden was planted, in deference to my husband.
Eastern Corner
In the eastern corner of the property, a cactus garden was introduced to round out an otherwise unusable space under a walkway.
