Next to the landmark statue of "The Old Prospector" flourishes a pretty garden composed of annual and perennial flowers, as well as houseplants.

The site itself helped dictate the look of the garden. Shaded by mature trees, the garden receives only morning sun and the building itself blocks any afternoon sun. If you have similar areas in your garden with very low light, visit this garden to help you deal with those challenging conditions.

Perennials planted at the Brooks Tower garden include hostas, brunnera, lamium, vinca, bamboo, meadow rue, golden creeping Jenny and astilbe. In the very brightest spots you'll find creeping thyme, ornamental grasses and a few shrubs such as shrub roses and boxwood.

Annual additions include tuberous and wax begonias, coleus and impatiens, as well as golden sweet potato vine in the sunniest spot. Because foliage variation plays such a big par in this garden mosaic, many houseplants intermingle with the perennials and annuals. Residents brought these plants outside for a summer vacation (they'll be going back inside soon) and they thrive beneath the canopy of the trees. Most houseplants cope with low light in our homes precisely because they evolved in the filtered light beneath trees. The bold leaves of dracaenas, dumb cane, ferns, philodendron, Algerian ivy, wandering Jew and other common houseplants add immeasurably to this garden.

The staff and residents of Brooks Towers care for the garden and do all the weeding, watering, fertilizing and pest control. The garden makes a lovely complement to the prospector statue and delights tourists and other downtown residents and workers. You'll often find residents working in the garden and they'll be happy to answer questions.