After creating a pollinators garden, I’ve been lucky to watch the workings of a bee colony and see native bees that I had never seen before. This year I want to do more for butterflies. Species Host Plant Nectar Fritillary Violets Viola adunca, V. nuttallii, V. nephrophylla, and V. palustris, V. glabella milkweed, thistle, […]
Planning for our Neighborhood Entrances
I am very excited to be a part of the planning for updating the plantings for our neighborhood entrances. HOA Requirements Drought-tolerant (after establishment should have no additional watering requirements) Perennial (do not want to replant year over year) Cost considerate My Requirements Pollinator Friendly All year color / interest Structure Meets light requirements Must […]
New fence, new challenges
Our fence really needed replaced. The old fence though was built so that light could shine through and you could see into each other’s yards. Our neighbor decided he didn’t want that kind of fence again. So now we have more shade . But new challenges mean new gardens! Here is the fence.
Fall apple harvest – apple butter
As near as I can tell my favorite apple tree is a ‘Honey Crisp’. It’s apples are sweet with just enough tart to make your mouth water. We had so many apples this year I decided we just had to find a use. Crockpot Apple Butter Having never tasted apple butter, I have very little […]
Where will the birds go?
Climate change is impacting the summer and winter grounds for migrating birds. Predictions for habitat loss due to climate is being studied so that wildlife corridors are saved for those birds as they determine new areas to live in a changing world. If you want to help, contact the Audobon Society with your donation today. […]
Another powdery mildew victim
Powdery mildew — an ever present danger in Colorado gardens. To battle it on a peony I am trying a top coat of a mouthwash solution. Paeonia ‘Dr Alexander Fleming’ 9/4/2016 powdery mildew. 30% solution mouthwash applied to leaves. Trimmed lower leaves. 11/1/2016 Update The mouthwash treatment kept mildew at bay for a couple weeks, […]
When gardening hurts
There was so much to do this year and so little time. The long days of weeding, trimming, and hauling caught up with me. I have been nursing a back strain since mid-June. And watching all my hard work in the garden slowly slip back to an unruly mess. So what to do? I have […]
A little late for little stinker
Who wouldn’t want to see a huge stinking bloom? The Denver Botanic gardens tweeted on August 6 they had another corpse flower ready to bloom. Thinking we had time we waited until the next day to see it… But the bloom had already passed. Little stinker seen below had already begun to fold up shop. […]
The first second bloom
Meet my favorite rose in my yard. It has no name nor pedigree I can ascertain. But it’s special because it’s survived. It’s special because it’s yellow, a color mom always wanted. It went from a poor existence under heavy plastic to a temporary spot full of buried weed barrier and
Enjoying the garden
The dog days of summer. I always wondered what that meant. I picture it as the time to take to the shade and enjoy all the hard work of spring and early summer. It’s the time to bring out the cooling sounds of a fountain. Sip sun tea on the veranda. The planting is […]