The sweet smell of spring — Greeley woman delights in arrangement of 5,000 tulips

Janean Cox loves gardening. Spending three hours a day with her sleeves rolled up while digging around on her three-acre estate in west Greeley is something she tries to do everyday.

Yet, Cox does admit that when she steps into her massive property to do a little yardwork, she ultimately has little say about what the landscaping creation she will do next.

She is just fine with that.

"When you're out there in it, you just realize that this is the way it's gotta go -- not the way I wanted it," Cox said. "It's just the creative process I like."

It should come as no surprise then that about two years ago she decided to have a daisy on her front lawn. Or perhaps, more specifically, an approximately 20 foot imprint of a daisy filled with about 5,000 white, yellow, red and purple tulips. The multi-colored design -- which cost about $2,000 for the bulbs alone -- began to bloom about two weeks ago and, weather permitting, will continue for a few more weeks.

"It was quite a job," said Cox, chuckling at the understatement.

Sue Boyett, owner of Happy Life Garden, 2000 37th St. in Evans, along with her husband Loren, would agree. Since they buried the bulbs in early October, she has been "sweating bullets" to see if it turned out all right.

"I've been losing sleep about it," said Sue Boyett. "Yeah, completely losing sleep over tulips just because Janean really wanted this beautiful pattern and, you know, nature sometimes doesn't do what you think it's going to do."

To ensure that the design of tulips was right and that no purple bulbs were placed where a white one was planned to grow -- a logistical nightmare -- Loren Boyett designed an enormous checkerboard-styled grid made of PVC pipe and string. Then, using spray paint, Sue Boyett coordinated where the bulbs should be planted.

"I think we're all pleased," said Cox giving her stamp of approval.

Yet, one should know that such a verdurous creation is somewhat of a common occurrence for Cox. Traveling down her driveway, it is not an uncommon sight to see a flock of birds rise from the ground as the potent scent of crabapple trees and Colorado wildflowers placed among several ponds -- and a golf course -- greet any visitor that stops by.

It is all, according to Cox, just another advantage of digging in the dirt.

"A garden is so interesting because it kind of evolves," Cox said. "You'll start out with one idea but you'll get out there and the garden will kind of change your mind because you can see what it needs and that's how you go."

<strong>SEE THE TULIPS</strong> To see the flowers for yourself, stop by Janean Cox's house at 5905 W. 24th St. in Greeley.