Beginning with the Gardens' humble origins in Vail, the book traces its four-decade evolution from a pocket-sized demonstration plot to an esteemed public botanical garden named in honor of First Lady Betty Ford. The Gardens, also known as Vail's Alpine Treasure, come to life in a delightful and intimate photographic tour of the Gardens' unique plant collections. Illuminating text, accompanied by exquisitely detailed flower portraits, highlight the crystalline beauty of beloved alphine species. Guest essays by well-known botanical experts add credence to the Gardens' internationally recognized reputation for pairing people with plants in a setting that inspires both curiosity and an innate desire to nurture the beauty and fragility of our natural world. On the Roof the Rocky Mountains confirms Betty Ford Alpine Gardens as both a must-see botanical garden and a North American alpine plant conservation leader.