The hog fence trellis has sat empty for over a year. Setup as the gate to my side yard, it will be a flower filled welcome sign. The pandemic has forced me into my closets to look for the plants I want to grow this year. In a shoe box lies seed packets dating back […]
Back Yard
Anaphalis margaritacea
Anaphalis margaritacea – Pearly Everlasting (Su,D,S,N) 24″ tall x 12 – 36″ spread, mounded with bright leaves and white summer blooms from June to October. *Host plant host plant Blooms: Summer (Su) Moisture: Medium to Dry (M-D) Soil Type: Sand (S) Range: Native (N) Started as: Seed Deer resistant Propagations via seed Plant in thin […]
Cosmos Bipinnatus
Cosmos (cosmos bipinnatus), a native to Mexico and the southern states, are a happy annual that readily reseed here in Colorado. I have been growing these in my front garden for more than 8 years from an original purchase of 10 plants. These are a showy addition that attract painted lady butterflies. But do not have […]
Back Yard Plant List
The plants I track in my Colorado garden. Zone: 5 Light: Mostly part-shade to deep shade. Looking out my patio I face northwest and the majority of the yard is shaded by numerous trees throughout the day. The most sunny spot is it the Northwest tip of the yard where I have my flower and […]
The pollinator garden five years on
It’s hard to remember the patch of dirt, trash containers and Rock wasteland that welcomed, or should I say scared visitors in my backyard. Today it’s an ever evolving combination of late spring and summer blooming plants that grow where they seeds of the previous year land. Few are the black-eyed susans… While echinacea and […]
Where do you start when you have very big gardening plans? Why small of course.
The garden plan looks great on paper. But as I look around there’s so much to be done. Where do you start? One of the challenges with my new plan is digging out the dry pond and the dirt will form a berm. This requires I understand the layout of the current sprinkler system. The […]
Dropseed and Little Bluestem grasses arrive; soon big bluestem as well
The grasses that will make up the main fill for the prairie substrate includes two native grasses that will provide both habitat and structure. LITTLE BLUESTEM ( Schizachyrium scoparium) DROPSEED (Sporobolus heterolepis) These little beauties arrived 5/16/2019 The intention was to allow acclimation 2 days in shade of patio and then move to sun. But […]
The silver maple comes down, well mostly
Who cries when a tree is cut down? Yep it’s me. Today I say goodbye to the silver maple. It is so hard to make a decision about cutting down a 40 year old tree. Its been ailing for a very long time. Every big wind some large limb comes down. And still, I have […]
In the Garden, Herbs and Monarda in raised beds to entice butterflies to habitate
Not every wildlife habitat is large. In fact having a bit of what a little guy needs is nothing more than a few feet of well placed plants, water, and cover. #NofH Converting today’s vege garden to a butterfly’s haven will experiment with 3 kinds of planting. A raised bed in a dry part of […]
Garden 2019 native plants to convert the lawn
My lawn is no longer sustainable in its current form. Not because its not beautiful or healthy with the additional water. Its just that. water. Denver is not considering the concrete jungle its creating. Density is thirsty. Its replacement must be maintenance sustainable. The ease of lawn mowing is overstated. Unless you move to a […]
