I’m Ashley Rebecca Moore, a garden photographer passionate about plants, sustainable gardening, and the natural world. I travel full-time, seeking out beautiful gardens, unique plant specimens, and wild landscapes. Cultivated and Wild is where I share photographs, stories, and travel advice so you can experience them too.
In many parts of the country, signs of spring are emerging. But for those of us located in northern latitudes or at higher altitudes, spring still feels far away. It can be discouraging to see images of crocuses, snowdrops, and daffodils blooming in warmer locations. So, I thought I’d share a few photographs that highlight the beauty that can be found while the earth still slumbers.
Deserts typically conjure images of dry, desolate places that are devoid of life but that couldn’t be further from the truth. They often contain a remarkable amount of biodiversity. Plants have developed amazing adaptations to survive in the harshest environments.
To see firsthand the beauty of the desert, you need to visit the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. The 140-acre garden resides among the red rocks and buttes of Papago Park and is home to more than 50,000 plants. You’ll see more cacti than you knew existed, as well as many different types of agaves, yuccas, and aloes. The garden is superbly designed and showcases how desert plants can be used to create spectacular gardens.
In 2018, I didn’t spend much time in carefully crafted gardens. Instead, my travels took me to the remote corners of the United States－far from cities and people. High in the mountains, you don’t find many gardens, at least not man-made ones.
Luckily for me, nature creates vignettes more beautiful than you can find in many gardens. Tall pines frame beautiful vistas. In wild meadows, grasses and wildflowers layer like brushstrokes on a living canvas. Wildflowers cascade down mountain slopes, softening rugged landscapes. A rich green carpet of ferns adds tranquility to a forest.
This year, I was a careful observer of the patterns in nature and found inspiration in its diverse environments. Reflecting on 2018, these are five places that captured my heart.
At the top of a mountain basin surrounded by beautiful peaks, you’ll find Copley Lake. The small lake is nestled in a bright, open meadow that’s ringed by a dark spruce forest. Like a living fence, the tall spruces shelter this secret spot. Surrounding the lake is a chartreuse meadow, which transitions to marsh as the land gently slopes towards the shore.
To reach this little-known gem, you’ll have to put in some work. While the trail isn’t terribly long, it does gain 1300 feet in elevation. The solitude that you find on the trail and at the lake is well worth the effort. Compared to other trails in Crested Butte, Copley Lake is less visited. It’ll likely be just you, the lake, the wildflowers, and the mountains.
