Work and Whimsy in the Mt. Elden Moon Garden

By Jan Holland Hailey

Jan Holland Hailey tending her garden. Photo courtesy of Jan Holland Hailey

Jan Holland Hailey and Eric Hailey bought a forested property in Flagstaff as their retirement home in 2016. The views and scenic setting bordering the national forest attracted them to the home situated on the southeast slope of Mt. Elden. After a decade of loving attention, Jan’s mountainside backyard garden will be included in the August 2026 Garden Tour sponsored by the Coconino Master Gardener Association.

Jan grew up in Page, Arizona and also lived in Flagstaff as a child. Her passion for gardening was inspired by her farmer grandparents and gardener dad, who could “grow anything anywhere.” After Jan retired to Flagstaff and experienced high-altitude trials and errors, she attended Warner’s Nursery Root Camp to gain knowledge in local gardening. She continued her quest for local gardening expertise by completing the Coconino County Master Gardener course in 2023.

Vegetable and flower gardens and potting shed in the Moon Garden. Photo courtesy of Jan Holland Hailey

The property is half an acre; the conditions are sandy volcanic soil, boulders, and rocks. From the base of the driveway to the highest backyard point there is a thirty-foot elevation change. Challenges include soil, wind, flooding, erosion, elevation, slope, and plant predators such as javelina. However, the location is in Flagstaff’s “banana belt,” which brings benefits of a longer, warmer season. 

The home was built in 2006 and the original yard site plan was designed by renowned local landscape architect Pam Symonds. The design took advantage of the large number of boulders excavated during construction and includes Arizona quarried flagstone and rock. Terraced paths wind through the landscape, embracing the site’s natural slopes. Existing islands of lawn were abandoned to save water and cultivate native grasses instead. Among the mature native trees, the Haileys’ favorite is an ancient Alligator Bark Juniper. The climate of the area supports high desert arid plants such as Banana Yucca, some cacti, and other succulents. As avid bird-watchers, Jan and Eric have set up bird feeding and viewing areas. They added a waterfall that works well with the property slope. Open iron fencing affords unobstructed views of the forest, mountain, birds, and wildlife.

Jan has created separate areas in the landscape such as a native plants garden, a pollinator garden, a “spiral” herb garden, and recently a “teepee” for her favorite Scarlet Runner Beans.  This year the couple built a rock garden using excess site boulders. Jan has named her garden the “Mt. Elden Moon Garden.” She has an affinity for spherical objects as shown by much of her yard decor and follows the Farmers’ Almanac phases of the moon in garden planting.

Vegetables were her first gardening focus, but in recent years, Jan has begun experimenting with cutting and culinary flowers. She gardens in 4’ x 9’ raised metal beds, pots, and grow bags, as well as fun objects like a vintage child’s wagon. She grows a variety of salad and cooking greens, vegetables, tomatoes, and herbs. She enjoys cooking, canning and preserving. Her harvested produce becomes ingredients in a preservation technique she calls “Yard Sauce,” used in pasta and soups long after the season is over. She has begun growing Hopi Corn and Himrod and Vitis arizonica grapes, which is a learning adventure. She uses on-site composting and vermicomposting to amend the soil structure and ollas to maintain moisture. The rainwater harvesting the couple started in 2024 has proven to be so successful, they’re planning to expand.

Spiral Herb Garden. Photo courtesy of Jan Holland Hailey

Jan calls the style of her garden “Junk Art Gardening” based on her use of a collection of old tools, rusted farm objects, and galvanized tubs. On display are outdoor wreaths made from her Dad’s barbed wire collection and glass electric insulators used abundantly in homage to his journeyman power lineman profession. Jan feels that old galvanized and rusted things are useful and whimsical, and evoke memories of time spent on her grandparents’ farms. 

This year Jan and Eric have been working to transition a backyard building into a potting shed. They feel gardening is a never-ending pastime involving chores and work that is satisfying and pleasurable.

The Coconino Master Gardener Association’s annual tour of local gardens is on Saturday, August 8, 10am-4pm. Come out and enjoy the eight gardens on tour, including Jan’s. Volunteers and the gardeners themselves will be available to answer all your questions. Tickets are available online now at CMGA2026.eventbrite.com or at Warner’s Nursery on the day of the tour from 9-noon.

Mt. Elden Moon Garden at night. Photo courtesy of Jan Holland Hailey

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an Holland Hailey earned a Master Gardener Certificate from University of Arizona Cooperative Extension in 2024. Gardening Etcetera is written for the community by certified Master Gardeners of the University of Arizona's Coconino County Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program. To learn more, visit extension.arizona.edu/programs/coconino-county-master-gardener.