As you live in this world you begin to know what makes for happy neighbors. For some its a natural part of life. For others, we have to work at being amongst the world. The older I get the more introverted my tendency. Luckily I have outgoing neighbors to draw me out. And over the […]
Plant Type
The last harvest of green tomatoes
Day 1 10-Oct Think this is the first year that I have tried to harvest the green tomatoes before a freeze. To help me ripen these tomatoes, I will use a method for small tomatoes.. tomato in a bottle 🎶 message in a bottle. Be glad you can’t hear me singing that. Now onto the […]
Helianthus Annus
I believe this is what i have that the little yellow birds love, love, love. This native sunflower with large leaves and stiff, spiny stems grew to 40″ with multiple flowers. The photo taken in early August shows a bird at center. I definitely want more of these lovelies around for feeding. This is also […]
Fall is near, it’s time to reflect on planting

When I look about the garden I see a lot of finished projects for the first time in a long time. This year’s been very productive. Not only have I found a few plants that are beneficial to both birds and me, I have found a new sense of appreciation for maintenance, the test of […]
Scarlett O’Hara morning glory delights

With near daily watering the old morning glory seeds are producing nicely. Say hello to Miss O’Hara Ipomoea Nil ‘Scarlett O’Hara / Scarlet O’Hara’ Annual Vine with large heart shape emerald leaves. Deep hot pink flowers with white throats emerge mid-summer. Multiple stems grow vigorously
Back Yard Plant List

The plants I track in my Colorado garden. Zone: 5 Light: 2020 – 30% sun, 35% part-shade, 35% shade. Looking out my patio I face northwest and the majority of the yard is shaded by numerous trees throughout the day. A large maple was removed in 2019 at the southwestern edge that has created more […]
A five-year-old peach’s shape four months after a big buzz
Does this peach look right? Not the look I was going for. But perhaps from this we’ll get and even better shape for a very loose espalier. Definitely looking bushy. But underneath I might just see the fan I was hoping for. A fan can be found within what looks like a bushy tree. Below […]
The plan for planting; figure out how many you have then plant!
Koeleria Macanthra
Koeleria Macanthra – June Grass (Sp,DM,A,N, Sun) 7″ Tall x 12″ Spread, light green spiky leaves. Purple-red spikes form on one side of the stem from late June to early August. When blooming, orange stamens and feathery stigmas form from the spikelets. seed for birds, used for flour by native americans Blooms: April to June […]
A pruning job I actually like
I’ve been known to butcher shrubs. It only makes sense knowing that in my family tree are at least two butchers! But I digress. What I would like to show you is a native chokecherry pruning job I’ve managed to keep tidy for many years. Keeping this shrub that can grow up to 25 […]